United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization

The Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization held its twenty-eighth session in Paris October 23 to November 1, 1951. With the design of implementing the UNESCO twelve-year fundamental educational program to improve education and living standards in all the underdeveloped areas of the world and in accordance with the General Conference decision to build a network of regional centers to formulate teacher training methods, the board chose Sevsel Layyam, Egypt as the second regional training center. This village, 40 miles from Cairo, was selected, because it appeared typical of communities in lower Egypt and in the Arab nations in general. Representatives from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria were expected to begin a twenty-one month course of study early in 1952. However, should unsettled conditions in Egypt forestall its operation, the Board would select an alternate site in the Philippines. A $235,000 allocation of the 1952 budget was approved by the board for the operation of the Egyptian and the Patzcuaro, Mexico centers. The board urged UNESCO members to provide fellowships to Korea for assistance in the educational reconstruction of the country. This request was. based upon a report by the Director-General (Bodet) which states that 57 percent of the teachers’ training colleges and high schools in Korea had been destroyed by the war, teachers to training colleges had been reduced 41 percent and high school instructors 54 percent. The board appointed Ronald Adam (United Kingdom) and Constantine K. Zurayk (Syria) to serve with Mr. Bodet on a joint commission of the Organization of American States and UNESCO. A single draft covenant on human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights, as well as civil and political rights, was favored by the board.