Joint Statement from the 2nd AEMM"Education for Learning Societies in the 21st Century"Singapore--April 7, 2000IntroductionEducation Ministers and senior education officials (hereinafter referred to as "the Ministers") from the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) member economies met in Singapore from 6 to 7 April 2000. This was the second meeting of the Ministers. They came together at the suggestion of the APEC Leaders who, in Vancouver, Canada, in 1997, welcomed the holding of a Ministerial Conference on Education in Singapore. The Education Ministers last met in August 1992 in Washington DC.Following the recognition by APEC Leaders at their meeting in Auckland in September 1999 of the importance of co-operation in human capacity building, the Ministers acknowledged that education will increasingly be a key contributor to the economic and social well-being of member economies.Education will assist APEC in achieving one of its aims, which is to develop more effectively the human and natural resources of the Asia-Pacific region so as to attain sustainable growth and equitable development of APEC economies. Education will help APEC to prosper and flourish as knowledge economies in a globalised world and advance the dynamism of member economies.The Ministers noted the symbolic significance of this meeting, which took place at the start of a new millennium. 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.The New TomorrowThe Ministers acknowledged that the world is now truly the global village it was once envisaged to be. Economies have become more inter-connected and interdependent, and this will continue to be more so in the future. In the new millennium, technology and information networks will continue to re-orientate how economies communicate with each other.The Ministers observed that the new century will be marked by rapid social and economic change, brought about largely by advances in science and technology. The knowledge -based economy will see the rise of new businesses and industries. In such a world, knowledge and its effective application will become the important assets for economic and social advancement. Education must equip the workforce with relevant knowledge and skills for the new economy and society of the 21st century.The Ministers recognised the vital role students and youth could play in contributing to the better future of tomorrow. Their needs and interests should, therefore, continue to be the prime concern of education providers. Opportunities should continue to be provided for them to play a role in the education development process.Education for Learning Societies in the 21st CenturyThe Ministers agreed that the theme for the 2nd APEC Educational Ministerial Meeting, "Education for Learning Societies in the 21st Century", speaks of the APEC’s aspiration of providing education for all, for life. The Ministers also affirmed the importance of promoting education as a means for personal fulfilment.In the 21st century, these goals are best realised in a learning society. A learning society prepares its people to embrace change. A learning society is forever learning, evolving, creating and acting upon what is important. Lifelong learning will be the characteristic of this society. As formal pre-employment education continues to be important, continual re-training and upgrading of knowledge for adult workers to develop themselves will also become paramount. With lifelong learning, inpiduals will be able to better contribute to their communities and work-places. A learning society therefore is an important factor in the continual well-being of its people and the advancement of its community.Ministers affirmed the important role education can play in shaping a learning society. In the new millennium, education will focus increasingly on developing intellectual capacity, not only in terms of the mastery of content but in processing, adapting, applying existing information, and, more importantly, in creating new knowledge. Education provides inpiduals the access to knowledge and the means to develop their potential. In particular, high standards in literacy, mathematics, science and technology provide the necessary foundation needed for the new global economy. In this inter-connected world, where knowledge and understanding of the languages and cultures of other communities is an asset and a way of life, the learning of foreign languages can help our people unlock new doors of information and opportunities. Education can help learning societies sustain and enrich cultures, and build mutual respect and understanding that transcends cultural differences. Globalisation presents opportunities for education to play a role in helping people communicate and co-operate in the new world.
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