COL is seeking submissions for its 2009-2010 Excellence in Distance Education Awards. These awards, which will be presented at the Sixth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning in Kochi, India in November 2010, recognise excellence in four categories: the overall institutional level, the development of learning materials, a lifetime’s work as an educator and student accomplishment. The deadline for submissions is 30 April 2010.

www.col.org/edea

COL AT CHOGM 2009

A new Commonwealth member state and climate change topped the agenda at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago in November 2009.

Heads of Government agreed on a strong declaration on Climate Change: “The latest scientific evidence indicates that in order to avoid dangerous climate change that is likely to have catastrophic impacts we must find solutions using all available means,” the Port of Spain Climate Change Consensus states. “We must act now.” Heads of Government also welcomed Rwanda as the Commonwealth’s 54th member (see sidebar).

In his presentation to Commonwealth Foreign Ministers prior to CHOGM, COL President Sir John Daniel outlined COL’s Three-Year Plan, 2009-2012 and explained COL’s responsiveness to themes emerging from past CHOGMs. Each Foreign Minister received a summary of COL’s activities in their region. Following Sir John’s presentation, representatives from a number of governments praised COL’s work in their country.

At the conclusion of CHOGM, Heads of Government released a Communiqué that touched on many issues related to education including:

• Reaffirming their commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals of reaching universal primary education and gender parity by 2015.
• Calling on all Commonwealth countries to commit further resources to basic education, including actively supporting the replenishment of the Education for All Fast Track Initiative.
• Emphasising the need for all children to have equity of access to quality education, regardless of geographical location, resources, gender, ethnicity and ability, in order to equip them to interact effectively in the global community.
• Pointing out the particular importance of the work and potential of the Commonwealth of Learning with emphasis on additional inter-governmental support to advance its programmes and the creation of strategic partnerships by COL.

The Communiqué also expressed satisfaction that the number of countries making voluntary contributions to COL’s budget had increased to 41 and encouraged other member governments to also consider doing so. They expressed particular appreciation for the work of the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC), and encouraged the Commonwealth Secretariat to assist COL in securing new funding to continue and expand the programme in terms of capacity building in the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in education, and the development and delivery of courses.

COL’s Caribbean Board member Professor Clement Sankat, Principal of the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine campus (first on the left, back row), organised a meeting involving more than 100 educators and government representatives from Trinidad & Tobago. The Hon. Burchell Whiteman, O.J., COL Chair ,COL President Sir John Daniel and Mr. Paul West, Director of Knowledge Management and Information Technology, shared information about COL’s Three-Year Plan, 2009-2012 and the development of open and distance learning in Trinidad & Tobago. they are seen here with (front row l to r): Ms. Margaret Richardson, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education (MSTTE); Ms. Karen Rosemin, Director, Distance Learning Secretariat, MSTTE and Ms. Jennifer Sampson, Senior Advisor to the President, University of Trinidad & Tobago (UTT). The day-long meeting took place at the UWI St. Augustine Campus in November 2009 prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Photo courtesy The University of the West Indies Marketing and Communications Office. Photo by Aneel Karim.

COMMONWEALTH WELCOMES RWANDA

Heads of Government endorsed Rwanda’s formal application and welcomed the Eastern African country and its President, HE Mr. Paul Kagame, as its 54th member at CHOGM 2009. This followed years of democracy building in Rwanda and consultations with the Commonwealth.

“The Commonwealth’s decision to welcome Rwanda was a collective act of goodwill, and of affirmation,” said Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma in a statement to the Rwanda Parliament delivered in Kigali last month.

“It was recognition of the hills which you have climbed, and a commitment to climb further with you. Your achievements in building a new and democratic Rwanda are instructive. Your progress in coming to terms with the legacy of conflict carries a lesson far and wide,” said Mr. Sharma, referring to the many challenges Rwanda has overcome since the 1994 genocide.

COL also welcomes Rwanda into Commonwealth membership and looks forward to working with its leaders.