Strengthening of Role of Teachers in a Changing World back a page | next page Strengthening of Role of Teachers in a Changing World Theme chosen for the 45th session of the International Conference on Education What functions should teachers assume today, as they are faced with new information technologies ? How can their professional skills and their humanitarian qualities be improved through pre-service and in-service training adapted to the needs of ever-changing societies ? How can the brightest young people be motivated so that they will choose this profession and how can this profession be granted the social prestige that it deserves? In short, how can society produce motivated, competent, well-paid and well-protected teachers, benefiting from high prestige in society, who will be instigators for the reform of education and promoters of an effective partnership between the school, the community, the family, the medias, teachers' associations and other institutions? These issues on the role and mission of teachers as major actors in the reform of education systems will be discussed at the upcoming session of the International Conference on Education (ICE) which will be held September 30 -October 5 in Geneva. The theme of the 45th session of the ICE—Strengthening of the Role of Teachers in a Changing World—will be explored in the general context of educational developments and reforms and will be related to the themes of the preceding sessions, namely intercultural/multicultural education (43rd session, 1992) and education for peace, human rights and democracy (44th session, 1994). The session will also draw inspiration from the results of the work conducted by the International Commission on Education for the Twenty-First Century (Delors Commission). The conference will coincide with the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation on the Status of Teachers, as well as International Teachers' Day (October 5). Four sub-themes have been identified for discussion: • the new professional profile of teaching staff and the improvement of their social status ; • the participation of teachers in the management of educational change and the issue of partnership with other social actors ; • new information technologies and the role and functions of teachers ; • pre-service and in-service teacher training. Round-tables will be organized on themes such as the participation of teachers in educational decision-making, how opportunities for teachers to improve the quality of education are affected by changes in society, teacher training and Piaget's conceptions of the construction of knowledge, and the impact of new information technologies on teaching and teachers. These round-tables will be organized in cooperation with the International Labor Organization (ILO), the University of Geneva, and UNESCO's Education Sector. The meeting will bring together Ministers of Education of UNESCO's Member States as well as observers representing organizations of the United National System and various intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations.

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