Minister Paradis supports education and training in Senegal / Canada supports basic education and vocational/technical training in Senegal

OTTAWA, Canada, December 1, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- On the sidelines of the 15th Summit of La Francophonie, the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, the Honourable Christian Paradis, visited a primary school in the Parcelles Assainies neighbourhood of Dakar to announce today a new initiative—Private Sector Growth Through Education for Employment—as well as substantial Canadian funding to help Senegal implement its national education program.

The Canadian support announced today is aimed at greatly improving elementary school teaching conditions as well as to strengthen the training of young women and young men so that they can acquire adequate employment skills.

"Canada is proud to work with Senegal to enable young people, especially girls and young women, to obtain a quality education, and in so doing, transform their future," said Minister Paradis. ''When well equipped, they can improve the quality of life of their families and become the next generation's workers and leaders. Canada remains committed to promoting education and training—essential tools for promoting sustainable economic growth and helping to reduce poverty."

Support for education in the world is one of the core priorities of Canada's, which has just launched its International Education Strategy. Canada has participated in the international effort to accelerate progress toward meeting the goal of universal education by 2015, and will help meet the objective to "ensure equitable and inclusive quality education and lifelong learning for all by 2030."

Quick Facts

• Canada is the second-largest donor to, and one of the key pillars of, La Francophonie.

• The Government of Canada funding announced today is helping to achieve the objectives of the Global Partnership for Education, of which Canada is a member.