The Commonwealth of Learning: the Basics

Abstract

Meeting of COL’s Focal Points in Africa & the Mediterranean, Ebene CyberCity, Mauritius, 19 May 2011, The Commonwealth of Learning: the basics, Sir John Daniel, President & CEO // These meetings have several purposes. First, COL wants to hear from you about the priorities for your countries in the areas of COL’s mission. After reviewing the priorities of all Commonwealth countries we shall be well equipped to design a three-year plan for COL for 2012-15 that answers your needs in an optimal fashion. // Second, in order to set the context, given that some of you are new since we last held this exercise in 2008, we shall remind you of COL’s purpose, status, organization and programme. I am starting this process now with a summary of the basics about what COL is; our Vice-President, Asha Kanwar, will follow up with an outline of our programme of work and then the two Education Specialists who have joined us for this Africa meeting, Ms Alison Mead Richardson and Dr Abdurrahman Umar, will say more about the programme initiatives in our two sectors of Livelihoods and Health and Formal Education. // The third key aim – and we expect quite a few additional benefits as well – it to enable you to exchange with each other about the ambitions and experiences of your countries as they relate to COL’s mission. // I’ve called this presentation COL: the Basics.