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Information and Education, Research and Innovation

People using the Internet

This is the 2007 draft on information. You will get the newest version here.

Capacity building also includes the access to information and education. This enables people in analysing problems and influencing politics and markets on the base of solid information as well as choosing options concerning lifestyles. Furthermore, it assists in creating and accelerating new solutions in research and development and thereby shaping our paths to the future.

Targets/goals:

  • The UN (United Nations) Agenda 21 and the Millennium Declaration emphasize strengthening education and science along with the role of private business and information technology (UN 1992, 30, 35, 36).
  • to ensure that ... children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling, by 2015 (UN 2000, 19.2).
  • The benefits of information and communication technologies shall be available to all (UN 2000, 20.5).

Trend: +

  • To date 88% of the children in the South are enrolled in primary school (except countries in conflict or post-conflict situations, for which data is not available). But the attendance in school is lower and late enrolment is very common. 31% of children in rural areas of the less developed world do not attend school. One child in five who is old enough to attend secondary school is, in the global South, still enrolled in primary school. (UN 2007, 10f. [and following])
    Worldwide literacy rate has risen up to 82% of all adults (UNESCO [United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization] 2007).
  • There is still a "digital divide": In the North, 53% of the people have Internet access, while in the South it is only 8.6% (increasing; UN 2007, 32; UN 2007b, Indicator 48).

Sources

Draft (2007)

Photo credit: © FAO/A.