Education to Achieve 21st Century Competencies and Skills for All: Respecting the Past to Move Toward the Future

I would like to express my appreciation to EDNET and the co-hosts of this seminar Education to Achieve 21st Century Competencies and Skills for All: Respecting the Past to Move Toward the Future. My thanks to the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, the United States Department of Education and the Ministerio de Educación República del Perú, for the invitation to participate in this important event. I am confident that participants will over the next few days craft the content and agenda for the 4th APEC Education Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) to be held in Lima, Peru in June 2008.

Without a doubt education is the key to achieving goals set across various APEC sectors whether it is the field of trade, investment, agriculture, environment, energy, or tourism. Indeed education has a great impact on the social development of economies and is integral to the long-term success of our region.

Globalization provides benefits but it also poses challenges. Success in this globalized world is predicated on education and ICT knowledge, and successful knowledge-based economies will be those which are based on the efficient and wide-spread use of ICT by all sectors.

The digital divide is an enormous barrier to the ability of the people in the Asia-Pacific region to participate in and benefit from the digital economy. Access to internet, adequate infrastructure, human capacity building and appropriate policies on ICT are central issues in addressing the digital divide.

The challenge for all of us as noted by Ministers in Chile in 2004 is how to balance the economic goals of education and training, through the preparation of a skilled labour force to stimulate sustainable economic growth, and the non-economic goals including personal development and fostering civic education and cultural identity, within the APEC Region. One way APEC does this is through the work of the Human Resource Development Working Group and EDNET.

Four years ago at the AEMM in Chile, EDNET was recognized as "a driving force that can add positive value in collaborative initiatives in the field of education-related issues in the APEC Region." EDNET has initiated and undertaken projects geared towards preparing the members of the APEC community to face the challenges of today's world through better education and training opportunities for all. These initiatives have progressed and continue today along the four priority areas of; language instruction, mathematics and science, career and technical education, and the use of technology and systemic reforms in education.

Learning each other's language, encouraging innovative and critical thinking, using ICT as tools to spread 21st century knowledge and skills, revisiting principles and methodologies in teaching and learning, sharing ideas and adopting best practices in education and training programs ensures that the benefits are spread across the region. This in turn contributes to achieving APEC's overall goal of security, stability and prosperity for all.

APEC's efforts in improving education and making available the benefits of new technologies and balancing these with the needs of the labour market and businesses will allow the Asia-Pacific region to do its share in supporting efforts to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

While some progress has been made in the MDGs at a global level the gains are uneven. Indeed the latest report states that both developed and developing economies are failing to provide job opportunities at a fast enough pace to fully employ their young people. The number of jobless youth has grown from 74 million in 1996 to 86 million in 2006. This represents almost half of the 195 million jobless people in the world.

Thus it is imperative to address the gap that exists between education and labour market needs. Equipping our students and youth with the necessary skills to help them get jobs will make them productive citizens and allow them to become beneficiaries of as well as contributors to regional economic and social growth.

I would like to now highlight some of the key issues that will be addressed this year. Being aware of these issues may help to guide you in your deliberations on this most important topic of education and skill development.

An economy with strong historical, social and commercial links around the Asia-Pacific region, Peru will host APEC in 2008. In this role, Peru is focusing greater attention on the social dimensions of free trade and investment so that all the people of the region can share in the benefits of globalization. Peru as host of APEC 2008 attaches great importance to education as a medium to achieve the goals of continued growth and shared prosperity in the region

Embracing the theme "A New Commitment to Asia Pacific Development," APEC in 2008 will boost APEC's technical cooperation framework to better engage member economies in the globalization process by highlighting the regional goals of free trade, liberal investment policy and enhanced business facilitation. This new commitment encompasses public-private sector partnerships, heightened relationships with international financial institutions and increased cooperation with international organizations and civil society.

As noted earlier an adequate labour force is essential to all economies so that they may face the challenges and demands of the 21st century. Thus in 2008 APEC will address the deep linkages between education and economic development. This means not only preparing students with technical skills, but also taking into account their development as citizens of a global economy. As a result the focus will be on language learning, innovative strategies in teaching mathematics and science, and improving education management.

APEC Peru 2008 will also be building on the success of APEC's focus on lowering the barriers at the border. Thus further attention will be paid to reducing red tape and bureaucratic obstructions that typically occur behind-the-border and often beyond scrutiny.

Building capacity will also be a priority as it constitutes the basis for economic development and technical cooperation. Through this work, APEC aims to provide an environment which is conducive for economic, social and legal stability while facilitating access to global markets.

Corruption is a major obstacle to economic development in the region. In 2008, APEC will bolster its fight against corruption in both the public and private sectors. This includes the development and application of measures for government authorities to deal with corrupt individuals and those who corrupt them. Education will be crucial in our fight against corruption and essential in establishing a culture of transparency.

SMEs account for over 98% of the region's business and employ around 60% of the work force. However, they face limited access to skilled workers, capital, innovation and global markets. APEC will therefore pay greater attention in 2008 to establishing a favourable environment for small and medium-sized enterprises, which includes skill development and the promotion of young entrepreneurs.

I would like to conclude by saying that the APEC Secretariat will continue to support EDNET through the HRDWG to accomplish the shared mission of closing the gap between the skills and knowledge taught in our schools today, and the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in today's rapidly changing workplace and business environment.

As Education Ministers stated in 2000 - "Education in the 21st century will be the determining factor in shaping the way we live, the values our societies wish to preserve and the levels of success each of our economies within APEC will strive for and maintain." This is a true today as it was eight years ago.

Let us try to set the foundation for the accomplishment of this goal. The future of the Asia-Pacific region lies with having a well prepared, competent and educated new generation; and this could well be the challenge of our generation.

I welcome the opportunity to take part in the dialogue on recommendations for the 4th AEMM in Peru and wish all the participants a productive symposium.