CRO EDUCATION MINISTER ADDRESSES UNSECO GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN PARIS

PARIS, Nov 9 (Hina) - Croatian Education Minister Nensi Ivanisevic on Tuesday took part in the work of the Commission for Education of UNESCO's General Assembly, which is in session in Paris. Commending UNESCO's contributions in the field of education, Ivanisevic outlined Croatia's experience in school system reform, which she said was specific due to the fact that Croatia executed this complex task while simultaneously eliminating the consequences of war and reconstruction war-ravaged areas. The minister also reminded that during the school system reform, there were in Croatia 60,000 pupils - children of displaced persons from Croatia or refugees from neighbouring countries. Ivanisevic said Croatia had managed to keep the school system open and free for all children despite having to face numerous problems, including that of deeply traumatised children. The minister said Croatia had developed a national school system which acknowledged the needs of the majority and of minorities. She outlined the basic elements of the National Human Rights Education Programme, and spoke about the realisation of several other UNESCO projects in Croatia. (hina) ha jn