NationStates Jolt Archive

Category: Education
Strength: Mild
Author: Havensky

WHEREAS: An educated citizenry is vital to a free society; and

WHEREAS: That the ability to read is a keystone to all other areas of education; and

WHEREAS: For a populace to be completely literate takes dedication and effort on the part of national governments; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED: That it is the goal of member nations in the World Assembly that every adult citizen in their nation be literate; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the World Assembly encourages member nations to adopt policies that increase the education levels in their nations in order to achieve literacy for all; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED: That member states who feel comfortable may volunteer to advise other member nations that request assistance in achieving literacy for all.


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The purpose of this bill is to make 100% literacy rates a goal of the World Assembly. It does not force nations to spend gobs of money on education, just encourages them to adopt policies towards this goal. It also allows nations the opportunity to help out other nations who want help in reaching 100% literacy.

I've placed this in the Education category and because it only encourages I've placed it's strength as mild.


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Literacy is the keystone to education. An educated populace is essential to a free society. So, with these interests in mind, I put forth this resolution.

It's simply states that "Literacy for All" is a goal as there are multiple ways to achieve this goal and it's not our intent to tell other nations how to achieve this.

Thank you and I'll be happy to answer any questions.

I applaud the Havensky delegation on this proposal; it has my wholehearted support!

In a briefing with my nation's Executive Council, however, concerns had been raised over the language of the first operative clause, as "every adult citizen" may be so construed as to justify not helping noncitizens become literate. They proposed making this proposal more ambitious, by extending the goal to "every individual," citizens and noncitizens (and adult and nonadults) alike.

But you can count on my vote, regardless.

Erskine Chauncey
WA Representative, Cartographic Boxes

You might benefit from reviewing the UN's "Reformed Literacy Initiative". I was not dreadfully attached to the "UN Access to Literacy Project", but I will mention it anyway, as it was the penultimate substantive resolution the UN passed.

Usually, 'person' is used instead of 'citizen'.

Finally, without wishing to seem unduly critical, for such an important subject this seems a little light on content. You might at least suggest policies to improve literacy rates. Examples might be: encouraging easy access to written (including online) materials; providing adult education courses; even setting certain targets.

-- Samantha Benson
Congressional Liaison, Office of UN Affairs
Quintessence of Dust, Delegate of Wysteria

P.S. The Education & Creativity category does not use Strengths; there is an Area of Effect called Educational, for which this would seem very appropriate.

As a functionary of a nation that regards education very highly indeed, I'd like to give this proposal my wholehearted indifference.

It doesn't do anything, apart from giving the assembly members a warm and fuzzy feeling. It doesn't even set up a committee to coordinate information about literacy programs and spread best practice, which would at least be something.

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Cerys Coch, Permanent Undersecretary

Category: Education
Strength: Mild
Author: Havensky

WHEREAS: An educated citizenry is vital to a free society; and

WHEREAS: That the ability to read is a keystone to all other areas of education; and

WHEREAS: For a populace to be completely literate takes dedication and effort on the part of national governments; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED: That it is the goal of member nations in the World Assembly that every person in their nation be literate; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the World Assembly encourages member nations to adopt policies that increase the education levels in their nations in order to achieve literacy for all; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a World Assembly Educational Advisory Committee be formed to advise nations on the best practices and methods to achieve this goal; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That nations may volunteer to deposit distributable educational material with the committee to assist nations in their educational endeavors; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the committee shall distribute available material to any nation that requests them; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED: That the committee shall publish reports on a quarterly basis on the committee's progress and their research on the best ways to achieve literacy for all.

Change 1) Replaced citizen with person

Change 2) Strengthened the resolution to establish a World Assembly Education Advisory Committee. (It's named the World Assembly Education Advisory Committee so that in the future it could take on additional responsibility in the future if the WA wishes it.)

Change 3) Established a policy that the committee can host educational material online to assist nations. (Again, this clause could be expandable as well. It doesn't limit the website to just containing material to help teach reading and writing.) Revised below

Change 4) Removed the reference to the website. Ordered the committee to make a quarterly report on it's progress and to distribute material when requested.

In the future I may start off stronger next time. (OCC: I always figured that I'd end up writing something that was too strong and having to work down. Guess I was wrong on that one!)

I wanted to start off by requiring nations to adopt policies that would result in literacy for all, but was unsure about the amount of support that would receive. I would have no problem strengthening it to that point that's what people want.

I wanted to start off by requiring nations to adopt policies that would result in literacy for all, but was unsure about the amount of support that would receive. I would have no problem strengthening it to that point that's what people want.

::shrugs:: It's what I want. Others won't. (OOC: the NatSov crowd can be relied on to howl any time you require them to do anything at all. That's one of the reasons I do exactly the opposite :-)

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Cerys Coch, Permanent Undersecretary

This proposal is worthy of consideration by me.

So, are there any additional comments? Does the group want it stronger? Weaker? Just right?

I should have spotted this before; web access isn't a universal. Rather than talking about putting material on the WEAEC's website, it would be better to allow countries to "deposit educational material with the committee". That sidesteps technology issues, and allows them to move with the times too. You may need extra words to ensure that the committee has to publish lists of deposited material, and make it available to nations on request.

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Cerys Coch, Permanent Undersecretary

Good point, I'll edit the draft above.

Um, I meant that the material should be available on request. The lists are implicitly available, since they're published. Sorry I wasn't clearer.

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Cerys Coch, Permanent Undersecretary.

Um, I meant that the material should be available on request. The lists are implicitly available, since they're published. Sorry I wasn't clearer.

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Cerys Coch, Permanent Undersecretary.

I've updated it

Um, I meant that the material should be available on request. The lists are implicitly available, since they're published. Sorry I wasn't clearer.

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Cerys Coch, Permanent Undersecretary.Wouldn't copyrights be affected because of the accessibility of the information through the Committee? Perhaps a Worldwide Fund for Education could also be set up. After all, not all nations are that rich. Just a thought. Oh and the Dominion supports this endeavor.

Simon Coward
National Center for WA Affairs

The materials are all donated by member national governments. Because governments must obey their own laws, any copy-right laws would not be violated due to this resolution.

This resolution does not demand that nations donate material. It simply provides a way for nations to help each other.

I do not want to set up a world-wide fund for education. (It's one thing for nations to volunteer to help each other, it's quite another thing to take money from other nations to give to another. If the contribution was voluntary, then it would be more like a non-profit - rather than a cooperative international body. That would be a proposal for another day.)

This draft has been submitted

http://www.nationstates.net/48389/page=UN_proposal/start=25

It is refreshing to see something in the proposal queue that I can actually support, approved.

Bob Flibble
WA Representative

Thank you for your kind words. It is my hope that enough delegates feel that literacy is an important enough goal to help this reach quorum.