Dakar, Senegal: Delegates from 181 countries adopted a Framework for Action committing their governments to achieve quality basic education for all, with a particular emphasis on girls’ education and a pledge from donor countries and institutions that “no country seriously committed to basic education will be thwarted in the achievement of this goal by lack of resources.”

The 1,500 participants at the World Education Forum, the largest education conference in the past decade, emphasized that while there had been significant progress in many countries, it is not acceptable that more than 113 million children (mostly girls) have no access to primary education.

The Dakar Framework addresses the challenges of the twenty-first century by focusing on the importance of girls’ education, quality learning and reaching those who continue to be excluded from education (girls, working children, children of ethnic minorities, and children affected by violence, conflict and disabilities).

Education was defined as a fundamental human right and the key to sustainable development and peace.

The participating governments committed themselves to, among other goals, ensure that by 2015 all children have access to complete free and compulsory primary education of good quality; eliminate gender disparities in education by 2005 and achieve gender equality by 2015 and; achieve a 50 percent improvement in levels of adult literacy by 2015, especially for women.

In order to achieve these goals, the delegates pledged to develop accountable systems of educational governance and management, meet the needs of educational systems affected by armed conflict, create safe and friendly schools, harness new information and communication technologies and systematically monitor the progress towards the goals.

They also committed themselves to encourage the participation of civil society in the monitoring and implementation of strategies for educational development. The strategies will mainly be implemented through existing mechanisms, primarily at the country level.

Participating countries will prepare a comprehensive National Educational for All (EFA) Plan by 2002, at the latest, with the consultation of national civil society. The plan will be prepared in the context of wider poverty reduction and development strategies and will, among other things, specify reforms, include mid-term performance indicators and establish budget priorities for achieving the goals no later than 2015. Concrete strategies for those currently excluded from education will be identified.

The World Education Forum was a follow-up to the World Conference on Education for All, which was convened in Jomtien, Thailand in March 1990. It synthesized the results of a two year Education for All Assessment which was conducted in 181 countries.

The “Kong Khao” ceremony was revitalized in the Naklua community three years ago to preserve its ancient customs and traditions, and to act as an added tourist attraction. Sri Racha holds the biggest Kong Khao ceremony in the province. This year, the ceremony was included in the annual Songkran festivities.

Local spirits in the community are represented and appeased, as are spirits of mountains, rivers, trees and whatever spirit is fancied, including are spirits with no living relatives. Community members prepare foods for the spirits and have a feast afterwards.

People following the Kong Khao tradition believe that performing the custom will appease the spirits, and good fortune and health will follow for the entire community. Prepared foods are brought to the temples with rice preparations presented to the spirits. In the past, this ceremony attracted such large numbers of people that the rice was placed in a collection area; this custom has now become part of the ceremony.

The spirits worshiped include “Mae Thoranee” the Earth Goddess, “Mae Phosob” the Rice Goddess and the Songkran Goddess of Rain. Parades of people bring along foods and worship the varied spirits, including local and foreign spirits alike. The ceremony is celebrated afterwards with everyone joining in the feast followed by traditional entertainment, games and athletic contests.

The method by which information travels around our organization can either thrill us or kill us!

Communication, remember, is ‘the shared understanding of what has been transmitted, about what has been meant, successfully received and confirmed by appropriate feedback.” If confirming feedback is required to achieve ‘real’ communication our method of dissemination must be astutely chosen and appropriate to both the message’s content and receiver’s need. I had the misfortune once to listen in on an exec’s thirty-five minute voicemail that was not much more than blatant chest beating. The masses of ‘spat out’ technical and financial details, smart *r$# big words and jargon made it impossible to remember the facts let alone understand the what he was on about. I am sure he thought he was a great communicator; however the listeners had a very different perspective. It is vital for us as senders to ensure that the methods we use are really communicating and that we are not just throwing out confusing information (or worse disinformation). A memo would have been this idiot’s much better option, particularly with lots of technical detail.

Many companies (read senior executives) claim to communicate well. Surveys and observation tell us that between 50% to 65% of employees tend not to believe what the management says, or... believe that they are not well informed or... that decisions are inadequately explained. Could this be because most executives really do lie, cheat and deceive, or is it a communication problem?

In the case of formal communication, networks can be chains (A to B, B to C, C to D, D to... and so on), wheels (A to everyone B, C, D, E, etc.) or “all-channel” where two-way communication occurs between all parties. If accuracy and speed is essential, wheels and all-channel obviously work the best. The common practice of sending messages ‘through the formal authority or status based network’ (chain) that is most often used I suggest for political, power, prestige or ‘face’ reasons, is usually the least effective option. Not only is too slow it gives those in the chain with malice in their hearts a chance to withhold or alter information, a great way to manipulate others in the chain.

So get rid of the old... ‘I’ll tell division, division will tell the branches... branches tell the departments... departments tell the supervisors, supervisors tell staff, etc.’ Too much time is wasted, too much interpretation is inserted and feedback is ‘filtered and biased’... that is if you get any feedback at all. With modern technical innovations the old practices are no longer required, although tradition often dictates that they are still used. Form a corporate culture that allows all employees to know all appropriate information across work groups and levels directly from the source and encourage responses directly back to source. You may be amazed at what you will find out and how much you will learn!

Worth a thought!

‘Star-Spangled Coalition’ calls for volunteers, sponsors, donors; Needs help for American Independence Day

American Independence Day, to be celebrated at the New International School of Bangkok (NIST) on Saturday July 1, needs a few good men, women - and sponsors - to extend the Spirit of ’76 in the year 2000.

Prizes and sponsorships make the event a great opportunity to have a great time and to help a Thai charity.

Americans from all over Thailand (and Asia, from Beijing to Diego Garcia) will join Thai and international friends to have the best Independence Day celebration ever.

Event co-chairs are Al Mavro of GDM Couriers and Alan Cooper of ANE-Asia Associates, who headed the event last year after a lapse of several years.

“Were you with us last year for our good old-fashioned, traditional Fourth of July celebration?” asks Mavro. “Remember the hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs and chicken? The ice cream and soft drinks? Barrels of beer! Children’s games, the US Marine Corps trooping the colors? The President’s personal greeting (delivered by the ambassador) and an amazing fireworks display?”

According to Mavro and Cooper, the Star-Spangled Coalition needs a few more volunteers - men, and women - to show America’s Thai hosts and friends how Americans do a family picnic and party, and to demonstrate America’s thanks for Thailand’s year-round hospitality.

The Coalition includes the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Joint US Military Advisory Group, the United States Embassy, New International School of Bangkok, the American Women’s Club and the American Chamber of Commerce.

Proceeds will go to parents and children affected by HIV/AIDS. I-Day’s designated charity, The Population and Community Development Association, headed by Khun Mechai Viravaidhya, will receive the funds at the event from H.E. Ambassador Richard Hecklinger.

How can you or your organization help? Contact Mavro at <[email protected]> (Fax: 285-3985, Tel: 285-3512) or Cooper at <[email protected]> (Fax: 741-7545, Tel: 311-4488).

To say the evening was a success would be an understatement and we believe that Ib and Kannikar are planning on another concert evening next month. Stay tuned!