Educational advancement in Non-Self-Governing Territories

XI. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FOURTH COMMITTEE
1050. Educational advancement in Non-Self-Governing Territories

The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 743 (VIII) of 27 November 1953 which sets forth, inter alia, the objectives of education in Non-Self-Governing Territories and recommends that the Administering Members make the greatest possible use of offers that may be made to them by other States Members of the United Nations through the Secretary-General or through the specialized agencies concerned or in other appropriate ways by such means as making available fellowships, scholarships etc. Considering that the Committee on Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories, in its 1956 report,[1] suggests, as one of the means of attaining those objectives, the creation, where it does not already exist, of effective local machinery by which educational policy can be settled and educational programmes put into effect, Convinced that, if such local machinery is to elicit the interest and support of organs of public opinion in the Territories, it must include appropriately qualified indigenous inhabitants of the area as soon as there are available in the Territories a sufficient number of suitably qualified persons, Considering that the Committee on Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories also states in its report that the representatives attending its meetings from many countries have much to contribute from their own experience, Considering further that it would be desirable, in order that that experience may make a more effective contribution to the advancement of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, to enlist the co-operation of qualified experts from Member States - preferably States in the same geographical region as the Non-Self-Governing Territories concerned - and to use their knowledge in solving local educational problems, Noting that, in line with the provisions of Article 73 d of the Charter of the United Nations, Members administering Non-Self-Governing Territories in the same geographical region have established inter-governmental agencies of regional co-operation of the type referred to in part two, chapter XIII, of the report of the Committee on Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories,

1. Reaffirms the view expressed in resolution 743 (VIII) of 27 November 1953 and reproduced in paragraph 17 of part two of the 1956 report of the Committee on Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories that, in accordance with the objectives laid down in that resolution, the process of education should be designed to familiarize the inhabitants with and train them in the use of the tools of economic, social and political progress, with a view to the attainment of a full measure of self-government;

2. Recommends to the Administering Members that they should intensify their efforts to establish, in Territories where it does not already exist, local machinery provided with sufficient financial resources to perform its functions and staffed by duly qualified indigenous personnel responsible for the formulation of educational policy and the implementation of educational programmes;

3. Suggests to the Administering Members the desirability of studying the method best calculated to enable local educational bodies in Non-Self-Governing Territories to participate in the formulation and implementation of technical assistance programmes of the United Nations and the specialized agencies relating to these Territories;

4. Urges all Members of the United Nations to offer increased facilities and to simplify conditions for the granting of scholarships and any other form of assistance to further the educational advancement of the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories, and reiterates its invitation to the Administering Members to permit the greatest possible advantage to be taken of such facilities and benefits;

5. Expresses the hope that the Administering Members will study the possibility of inviting the Governments of the Member States in the same region as the Non-Self-Governing Territories concerned to appoint experts to contribute by their knowledge to the meetings of inter-governmental agencies of regional co-operation of the type referred to in part two, chapter XIII, of the report of the Committee on Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories;

6. Requests the Committee on Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories to report to the General Assembly on the steps taken to give effect to the recommendations contained in the present resolution.

657th plenary meeting,
20 February 1957.

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[1] Ibid., Eleventh Session, Supplement No. 15 (A/3127), part two.