South Africa has made tremendous strides towards achieving the EFA goals with 97 percent access to basic education in 2014. And one of the functions of the South African National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is to strengthen the partnership between the civil society and government towards achieving the education for all (EFA) goals.

The Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga and the South African National Commission for UNESCO will host the annual Education for All (EFA) Stakeholders meeting in conjunction with the launch of the Global Monitoring Report (GMR) and the presentation of awards certificates to the 2014 recipients of UNESCO funding.

The GMR aims to inform and influence national and international policymakers, planners, aid donors, UN organisations, civil society, as well as increasing public awareness of the importance of education. The Stakeholders, representing Government, Civil Society, Academia, National Association of School Governing Bodies and ETDP SETA, will be provided with a draft report from the DBE on progress made towards achieving the EFA Goals.

The main priorities addressed by the report include expanding and improving comprehensive early childhood care in education. The report also looks at overall Improvements of every aspect of the South Africa’s education system while emphasising the production of excellence so that recognized and measurable learning outcomes become visible.

Members of the Media will be afforded an opportunity for interviews with stakeholders and are invited to attend the meeting as follows:

Date:                Friday, 17 April 2015

Time:               08h00-13h00

Venue:             DBE Conference Centre, 222 Struben str, Pretoria, South Africa Valhala Primary School

Enquiries:        Elijah Mhlanga: 083 580 8275

Terence Khala – 081 758 1546

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION