April 26, 2005 Ottawa -- Paddy Torsney, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation Aileen Carroll, announced on behalf of the Minister, $10.7 million in funding by the Canadian International Developement Agency (CIDA) for a basic education initiative in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America. "This initiative demonstrates CIDA's commitment to work in partnership with Canadian teachers to make good quality primary education accessible to all," Ms. Torsney said. "Canada will continue to support the efforts of developing countries to deliver sound, country-owned national education plans grounded in poverty-reduction strategies, which is in line with CIDA's Basic Education Action Plan and supports Education For All." This five-year program will be cost-shared with the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF), which will contribute $4.2 million in funds and $3.7 million in-kind. In addition, the program will receive approximately $1.2 million of in-kind professional services and administrative assistance from Education International, a global organization that represents 29 million teachers. "The CTF is a well-respected organization working in international development to promote and improve education, one of 8 Millennium Development Goals," said Minister Carroll. This initiative focuses on the delivery of "Quality Education for All" through the five key areas of capacity building, professional development, gender equality, HIV/AIDS, and influence on National Education Plans. Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2005 Federal Budget and is therefore part of the existing fiscal framework. - 30 - Information: Andrew Graham Director of Communications Office of the Minister of International Cooperation Telephone: (819) 953-6238 Media Relations Office Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Telephone: (819) 953-6534 E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca Web site: www.cida.gc.ca
