UNESCO LITERACY PRIZES - BACKGROUND ON PRICES AND

UNCLAS PARIS 004390

SIPDIS

FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL CU CH UNESCO
SUBJECT: UNESCO LITERACY PRIZES - BACKGROUND ON PRICES AND

REF: PARIS 4296


1. (U) The 2006 UNESCO Literacy Prize Winners were announced
yesterday, 21 June 2006. The winners are: Cuba, Morocco, Pakistan,
Rajastan (India),and Turkey.
The prizes are expected to be presented on 8 September 2006,
International Literacy Day.


2. (U) The UNESCO International Reading Association prize was
awarded to Pakistan (National Commission for Human Development NCHD,
for its National Literacy Program, which aims to increase the
literacy ration by the year 2015 to meet EFA goals.


3. (U) One of the two UNESCO King Sejong Prizes was awarded to
Turkey (Mother Child Education Foundation). The other UNESCO King
Sejong Prize was awarded to Cuba (Youth and Adult Literacy and
Education Chair of the Latin American and Caribbean Pedagogical
Institute) for its work to advance individual and social potential
through innovative teaching methods with successful outcome in 15
countries, notably in Ecuador and Venezuela.


4. (U) One of the two UNESCO Confucius Prizes was awarded to Morocco
(Ministry of National Education). The other UNESCO Confucius Prize
was awarded to Rajastan (India) (Directorate of Literacy and
Continuing Education for its Useful Learning through Literacy and
Continuing Education Program


5. (U) Prize winners are designated by the Director General on the
recommendation of a jury, made up of least five persons of different
nationalities appointed by the Director General for a minimum of
three years. Mr. Shigeru Aoyagi and Ms. Namtip Aksornkook are the
two education sector staff members who have been responsible for the
program.


6. (U) Jury members for the International Reading Association, King
Sejong and Confucius prizes:
Alan Farstrup, (US)
Choi Un Shil (Korea)
Ghada Ragheb Al-Jabi (President) (Syria)
Gorgui Sow (Senegal )
Mirian Masaquiza (Ecuador)
Dong Jiang Song (China) new member added because of the Confucius
prize


7. (SBU) According to a conversation with Alan Farstrup, the US
member of the jury, 47 candidatures were reviewed, having been
nominated by NGO's or National Commissions. He said that overall,
they were of poor quality, with only six candidates really worth
considering. One other candidate, an Africa project, was ruled out,
as it had been nominated by Spain, and not by an NGO or National
Commission, according to the prize rules.


8. (SBU) Farstrup indicated that there was a great deal of pressure
from Ecuador to award a prize to Venezuela, but he was able to
counter the push successfully. He said that the rules of procedure
are questionable, and need to be looked at, regarding term limits,
conflict of interest, and selection of candidate for prizes.


9. (SBU) As already reported, apparently at least two members of
UNESCO's ED/BAS/LIT staff, pushed the prize nominations to the
Director General's office without going through channels, which
included Peter Smith, ADG, Education, and Jim Kulikowski.
Oliver