The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions on the United Nations Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa, in particular resolution 47/117 of 18 December 1992,
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 1992 to 31 August 1993,
Noting with satisfaction that the recommendations of the evaluation of the Programme undertaken in 1989 as endorsed by the Advisory Committee continued to be implemented,
Recognizing the valuable assistance rendered by the Programme to the peoples of South Africa and Namibia,
Emphasizing the need for assistance to the people of South Africa particularly in the field of education during the transitional period,
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,
Noting that, in order to address the priority needs of disadvantaged South Africans, the Programme is continuing to allocate a higher proportion of resources for the purpose of institution-building in South Africa, in particular by strengthening the historically black and other institutions of higher learning, especially the technikons, through specialized training courses with built-in employability of graduates,
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 efforts to adjust the Programme so that it can best help 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. Also endorses the Programme activities aimed at contributing to South Africa's human resources needs, especially during the transition period, by:
(a) Supporting co-sponsored projects with technikons and the historically black and other universities;
(b) Strengthening 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;
(c) Engaging educational institutions, non-governmental organizations and the private sector in South Africa in co-sponsorship arrangements and job placement of graduates;
4. Welcomes the fact that educational and training activities of the Programme inside South Africa have expanded, and the Programme's close cooperation with South African non-governmental organizations, universities and technikons;
5. Calls upon non-governmental educational institutions, private organizations and individuals concerned to assist the Programme by entering into cost-sharing and other arrangements with it and by facilitating the returnability and job placement of its graduates;
6. Appeals to Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, international professional associations and individuals to assist, within their areas of activity and influence inside South Africa, 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;
7. Considers that the activities of the Programme, under changing circumstances, should be planned in such a manner as to ensure that commitments made with regard to educational and training assistance to disadvantaged South Africans can be fully met;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to include the United Nations Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa in the annual United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities;
9. Expresses its appreciation to all those who have supported the Programme by providing contributions, scholarships or places in their educational institutions;
10. Appeals to all States, institutions, organizations and individuals to offer such financial and other assistance to the Programme so as to enable it to carry out its programmed activities.
85th plenary meeting
20 December 1993
