UNESCO to set direction for next eight years at 37th General Conference

The 37th session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) will decide on the new Medium-Term Strategy, which for the first time will stretch over a period of eight years, from 2014 to 2021.

The conference is also expected to confirm another four-year term for Irina Bokova as director-general. She was nominated for a second term by UNESCO's Executive Board last month.

"This session of the general conference is held at a particularly critical time for UNESCO. The organisation is in the midst of a major reform, aimed at making UNESCO more relevant, more effective and more performing in response to global challenges to peace and development," said the organisation in a statement.

The general conference is also expected to approve a programme that reinforces the reform and gives shape to the policies needed to achieve the sustainable development goals that will guide the international community in the coming years.

The opening ceremony was officiated by the President of the 36th session of the General Conference, Katalin Bogyay here Tuesday.

Several heads of state and some 150 ministers and delegates from all 195 UNESCO Member States will gather in Paris over the next 15 days for the organisation s general conference.

Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is on a five-day working visit here, is leading the Malaysian delegation.

On Wednesday, Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, is scheduled to attend the UNESCO Leaders Forum and visit the International Institute for Educational Planning here.

He is also scheduled to deliver a National Statement on Thursday in which, each country is allotted a slot to deliver a six-minute statement at the general conference.

He is expected to officiate the Malaysian Education Development Plan Exhibition organised by the education ministry at the UNESCO headquarters here on Friday.