APEC education ministers vow to boost quality education

Chinese Vice Minister of Education Zhang Xinsheng (1st L) speaks at a press conference during the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) educational ministerial conference in Lima, capital of Peru, June 11, 2008. The 2-day ministerial conference started here on Wednesday with a focus on the challenges of globalization in the field of education.

LIMA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Education ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) on Thursday pledged to make joint efforts to boost quality education for social and economic development.

"Well-educated citizens," said a statement signed by the ministers, "not only contribute to but also make for the social, economic and sustainable development of our 21 economies with just societies that value knowledge, and promote a culture of peace, understanding and diversity."

After two days of discussion with the theme "Quality Education for All: Achieving Competencies and Skills for the 21st Century," the ministers vowed to concentrate efforts on developing among students the competencies "needed to succeed in all aspects of life, beyond the workforce, as an individual, a family member, community member and global citizen."

To this end, they agreed that curriculums should place criticalemphasis on mathematics and science as a way to navigate data-driven and technological world, career and technical education, learning each other's languages to communicate across cultures as well as integrating information and communications technologies into classroom instruction.

The statement and related documents signed by the education ministers will be submitted to the 16th APEC summit also scheduled for November in this Peruvian capital.