President Sergio Mattarella on
Wednesday stressed the importance of education for freedom and
peace in his message for the International Day of Education.
"The theme of today's International Education Day, 'learning for
lasting peace', shows how we must proceed in tackling the
soaring wave of conflicts, violence, intolerance and hate speech
that we are witnessing," the head of State said.
"Education is the key for understanding the value of the
uniqueness of each person, the richness pluralism offers, the
inviolability of fundamental liberties.
Knowledge is the first step towards reciprocal understanding and
dialogue".
He president said ensuring quality, fair and inclusive education
for all was an "urgent" challenge.
"At the dawn of the third millennium, hundreds of millions of
children and teenagers still do not have the opportunity of
beginning or completing their schooling," Mattarella said.
"Poverty, wars, social inequality and denied rights are factors
that hinder access to education.
"Including the right to education in the fundamental rights of
the individual - as envisaged by the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
- is the first step that paves the way for effective educational
paths that ensure access to information and knowledge, respect
of freedom of expression and opinion, academic and scientific
freedom.
"This is a challenge that must be addressed urgently.
"The international community has undertaken to achieve, by 2030,
the goal of a quality, equitable and inclusive education for
all, firmly convinced that an appropriate education is a pivotal
factor for improving people's lives and for attaining
sustainable development...
"Access to education must be a paramount goal of the
institutions as they look to the younger generations, which must
be given the opportunity to learn and develop".
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