Abbey Zeiser and Matt Ruszczyk
United Arab Emirates
Notre Dame High School
Commission for Social Development
Topic: Basic Education for Youth
16-19 Nov. 2006
Basic Education for Youth
Many children living in developed countries take their education for granted.
They don’t realize that 115 million children do not receive an education. The Basic
Education for Youth is an issue which needs to be dealt with through any means
necessary. Providing education for the youth of the world will teach them life skills, help
them to not lead an impoverished life, and provide them with career possibilities. The
problem is not that the children want to learn, because they do, the problems lies with the
issues surrounding their education. One of the main reasons for the lack of education is
because of money. In many circumstances children cannot go to school because it would
mean financial trouble for their families. They are needed to work to help their family
and are a critical part of the labor force and cannot waste their time in school. It is too
costly for children to attend school because their parents have to pay for school supplies,
uniforms, and school fees. In many underdeveloped countries, children are trained early
to join the army. To them, education is not as important as fighting for their country. A
few things which the United Nations must address are the fees for schooling, the lack of
opportunities for girls, refugees, disabled, and street children and the quality of education.
It is a topic of concern today because it involves the future of our world. In 1999 a group
of organizations joined with the United Nations “to provide free compulsory public basic
education for all people”(Muschinske 9). They want to provide free education for
children by the year 2015. Providing education for everyone is also beneficial because it
can spread AIDS awareness, tobacco and drug prevention, nutrition facts and other
important life issues that can save countless lives (Life Skills Based Learning 1). The fact
of the matter is that education for youth is necessary to secure a successful global
community for the future. The United Arab Emirates fully supports the efforts to provide
basic education for the youth of the world, in hopes of teaching children how to be
healthy, safe and well educated no matter what their conditions are.
Basic education is a human right and is vital for well being. All children, no
matter what area they are born into, deserve to receive primary education (Basic
Education 1). In the past few years, the United Arab Emirates has made great
improvement in their education and would like to see the same done everywhere in the
world. One cause which the United Arab Emirates supports is the Conference for
Education for All. It was held in Thailand and had a tremendous impact on the education
there. 2.2 billion dollars has been donated to improve their basic education and they have
been pushing for education reforms (Muschinske 15). The United Arab Emirates would
like to see conferences like this one held around the world. We believe that doing so
would increase people’s knowledge of the importance of education. Another program
which is greatly supported is Educaiton For All. Education for all is “an international
commitment to bring the benefits of education to every citizen in every society”
(Education for All 1). Education For All plans to improve and provide equitable access to
appropriate learning and life-skills programs. They plan to expand and improve
childhood care and education for vulnerable and disadvantaged children. They have high
hopes for 2015 which is when they plan to meet their goals. They wish to ensure
education for all children, particularly girls, those in difficult circumstances and those
belonging to ethnic minorities, to have access to free primary education of good quality.
They also hope to achieve gender equality in education. It is important to ensure girls’
full and equal access to achievement in basic education of good quality( Education For
All 1). Education should be encouraging and a haven for students. The United Arab
Emirates wishes to not only support education programs but to support ones which
provide a safe environment for children. By educating children we wish to break the
cycle of abuse and poverty.
Many countries may not wish to get involved in this because providing children
with schooling and supplies is expensive. Many countries have even relocated their
money to other things. This is a preposterous action to take because education is the one
thing which will secure our future. Who will lead the countries in years to come? Who
will be there to make important decisions like this one? The answer is no one. That is
why programs like The Conference for Education for All are needed in every country of
the world, no matter the conditions. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights States
that “Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the
elementary and fundamental stages”. The United Arab Emirates supports this cause and
through different programs to provide education where it is needed, we hope to see it
become a reality.
“Article 26A.” in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.General Assembly of the
United Nations. 1948.
“Basic Education and Gender Equality.” UNICEF. Internet. 2006. 17 Oct. 2006.
<www.UNICEF.org>
“Education For All.” The World Bank Website. Internet. 2006. 16 Oct. 2006.
<www.web.worldbank.org>
“Indonesian Child-friendly Schools Provide a Haven From Abuse.” UNICEF. Internet.
2006. 17 Oct. 2006. <www.UNICEF.org
“Life Skills Based Learning” UNICEF. Internet. 2006. 17 Oct. 2006.
<www.UNICEF.org>
Muschinske, Jenny. “Basic Education for Youth.” Rutgers Model Untied Nations
Directors Brief for the Commission for Social Development. The Institute for
Domestic and International Affairs. 2006. 5 Oct. 2006. <www.idia.net>