World Confederation of Education - COMED |
Valencia, Spain - 2008 |
HISTORICAL ABSTRACT
VIII WORLD CONGRESS ON EDUCATION (2008)
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MOMENTS OF THE CONGRESS HELD AT THE CONVENTION CENTER IN VALENCIA, SPAIN, ON THE SLOGAN "THE BEST OF THE BEST".
PROPOSAL OF DECLARATION
The representatives of the World Confederation of Education (COMED) and their entity members of the different continents gathered in this World Congress of Education in the city of Valencia and after the work done from April 17th., and April 19th., 2008, declare that:
The international reality shows a growing tendency towards a globalization of culture which, without causing the loss of traditional and national values, has accelerated technological improvements and communication; but even when these aforementioned items constitute valuable resources to improve life quality, they may exercise at times certain undesired influences on the younger generations which have easy access to them.
That due to such situation, the role of the school and its natural professional educators agents have to be reconsidered for they are the ones who not only impart knowledge but also facilitate young ones the tools for the development of certain competences to critically use cultural resources and finally acquire values.
That the family should also be engaged in this process, accompanying teachers in the centers they have chosen for the education of their children in order to achieve the educational objectives they had.
That the extension of the right to choose any educational center for their children should be ensured to families without taking into consideration social or economic positions.
That States have as a duty to provide the systems with the necessary support to exercise freedom to teach and learn, as well as to sustain and respect the autonomy of educational centers.
That in these systems of support those who sustain the offer (subsidizing establishments or servicing providers) will be as much valued as those who demand it (families). The system of voucher or school cheque will be specially considered, for they represent a direct form of support to the right to choose any educational system. The fiscal release of educational expenses in taxes for families or centers will also be considered.
That the educational systems must be integrated with a diversity of services of state or private management, fostering through several measures fair competition and innovations. In this diversity the rights of the teachers who work for both or either system should be specially considered through an incentive to the improvement in the performance in their careers.
That the data collected during these days shows that developing countries are those where the educational system has reached the majority of the population in the most efficient way. Educational Excellence is both, cause and consequence of human and social development.
That under-developed countries will need to reconsider the organization of the systems and institutions to allow for the incorporation of technology in teaching so as not to increase the gap between richer and poorer countries or the so-called "first class and second class" citizens.
That, along these same lines, that foundational compromise of the World Confederation of Education is renewed after two decades: "While in the world exists a citizen who does not receive Education of Quality, our duty will be unfulfilled."
Valencia, Spain, April 2008.
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DR. EDGARDO DE VINCENZI, PRESIDENT OF COMED, TOGETHER WITH DR. JESÚS NÚÑEZ VELÁZQUEZ, PRESIDENT OF CADEICE: CONFEDERATION OF ASSOCIATIONS OF PRIVATE EDUCATION CENTERS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION.
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THE HONORARY PRESIDENT OF UNICEF, INFANTA MARGARITA DE BORBÓN WITH THE MEMBERS OF COMED.
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AUTHORITIES PRESENT
Presided by the Honorable
King and Queen of Spain,
• D. Juan Carlos and Dña. SofiaHans-Gert
Pottering
• Francisco Camps
• Rita Barbera
• Jan Figel
• Koichiro Matsuura
• Carlos Tedesco
• Fernando Haddad
• Euripidis Stylianidis
• Mary Hanafin
• Marfa de Lurdes Rodrigues
• Edward Balls
• Sari Sarkomaa
• Pierre Hazette
• Ronald Plasterk
• Rafael Aragunde Torres
• Greace Pandor
• Alejandro Font de Mora
• Concepción Gomez
• Gerardo Dfaz Ferran
• Rafael Ferrando
• Edgardo De Vincenzi
• Jose Augusto de Mattos Lourenco
• Arturo Virosque
• Alex de Jorge
• Mark Henning
• Suzanne Jackson
• Perpetuo Lentijo
• Néstor Barallobres
• Jesús Nuñez
• Ignacio Monzonis
• Alejandro Monzonis
• Juan de Santiago
• Luis Fuentes
• Agustin Serrabona
• Jesús Nuñez Velázquez - Spain
• Bernard Delesalle - France
• Chrysanthi Moraiti - Kartali - Grecce
• Raymond Vandeuren - Belgium
• Joao Valsassina Heitor - Portugal
• Francis Baker - lreland
• Javier Hernandez
• Pilar Gonzalez
• Oscar Bachiller
• Luis Perez Martinez
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