The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions on the United Nations Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa, in particular resolution 46/80 of 13 December 1991,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General containing an account of the work of the Advisory Committee on the United Nations Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa and the administration of the Programme for the period from 1 September 1991 to 31 August 1992,
Noting with satisfaction that the recommendations of the evaluation of the Programme undertaken in 1989 as endorsed by the Advisory Committee continue to be implemented,
Recognizing the valuable assistance rendered by the Programme to the peoples of South Africa and Namibia,
Also noting with satisfaction that educational and technical assistance for southern Africa has become a growing concern of the international community,
Fully recognizing the need to provide continuing educational opportunities and counselling to students from South Africa in a wide variety of professional, cultural and linguistic disciplines, as well as opportunities for vocational and technical training and for advanced studies at graduate and postgraduate levels in priority fields of study, as often as possible at educational and training institutions within South Africa,
Strongly convinced that the development of the Programme is essential in order to meet the increasing demand for educational and training assistance to disadvantaged students from South Africa,
Noting that, in order to address the priority needs of disadvantaged South Africans, the Programme is continuing to allocate greater resources for the purpose of institution-building in South Africa, in particular by strengthening the historically black and other institutions of higher learning, especially through a graduate student and junior faculty enhancement programme abroad in the field of educational management and other short-term specialized training courses with built-in returnability and employability of participants,
1. Endorses the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa;
2. Commends the Secretary-General and the Advisory Committee on the United Nations Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa for their continued efforts to develop the Programme so that it can best meet the needs evolving from changing circumstances in South Africa, to promote generous contributions to the Programme and to enhance cooperation with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental agencies involved in educational and technical assistance to South Africa;
3. Welcomes the main thrust of the proceedings of the Follow-up Conference on International Educational Assistance to Disadvantaged South Africans, held in New York on 8 and 9 September 1992, organized by the United Nations Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa and its Advisory Committee, with special regard to the need for:
(a) Establishing linkages between training and educational activities and industry in South Africa;
(b) Supporting and strengthening the historically black and other universities through exchange programmes for graduates and junior faculty;
(c) Continuing to provide educational assistance at the tertiary level in South Africa and to strengthen the institutional technical and financial capacity as well as the decision-making of non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations and educational institutions that serve the needs and interests of disadvantaged South Africans;
4. Notes with satisfaction the training activities of the Programme designed to address priority needs in the areas of education and training assistance to disadvantaged South Africans;
5. Welcomes the expanding educational and training activities of the Programme inside South Africa and its close cooperation with South African non-governmental organizations and educational institutions;
6. Emphasizes that the international community has an important role in assisting the people of South Africa in bridging the economic and social disparities in South Africa during the transitional period, particularly in the field of education;
7. Calls upon non-governmental educational institutions, private organizations and individuals concerned to assist the Programme in facilitating the returnability and job placement of its graduates;
8. Appeals to Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, international professional associations and individuals to use their influence and leverage inside South Africa to assist graduates of the Programme in obtaining access to job opportunities so that they can effectively contribute their professional competence and expertise towards the political, economic and social development of South Africa during the period of transition and beyond;
9. Considers that, under the changing circumstances in South Africa, the Programme should continue to have, in addition to its educational and training programmes abroad, the necessary flexibility and means to expand, in an appropriate manner, educational and training assistance to disadvantaged South Africans within the country itself;
10. Expresses its appreciation to all those who have supported the Programme by providing contributions, scholarships or places in their educational institutions;
11. Appeals to all States, institutions, organizations and individuals to offer greater financial and other assistance to the Programme to enable it to carry out its programme of activities.
91st plenary meeting
18 December 1992
