不丹：很多脱盲人员已经成为当地的领导者

　　不丹获奖代表感言

　　各位尊敬的来宾，国际教育奖的获奖同仁，女士们，先生们！
　　首先，衷心感谢联合国教科文组织和中国政府，特别是联合国教科文组织中国全国委员会，为我能代表我国出席这次孔子教育奖颁奖盛会提供的难得机会。
　　不丹是地处中国和印度之间、一个仅有70万人口的小国。我们的现代教育也仅仅是从上世纪60年代才开始。我就属于不丹现代教育的第一代受益者。但我们国家中没有机会接受教育的国民占了很大的比例。我们的小学净就学率大约为97%，而成人识字率只有60%。
　　不丹王国政府坚定不移地将教育视为不丹实现社会、文化以及经济目标的前提条件和核心要素。正是在这一背景下，不丹王国政府以发展全民教育为其首要任务。
　　这一通过宗喀语培训基本读写和计算技能的非正规教育计划，于1990年面向农村推行，并进而发展为面向全体国民，尤其是如上所述的、失去就学机会的妇女。分布于全国各地的953个非正规教育中心，使16万名男、女村民于扫盲中受益，为他们的人生增加了更为丰富的机会，为母亲们创造了更为安全的生存空间，为更良好的儿童福利和更健康的生活方式提供了保障。目前，有很多脱盲人员已经成为当地的领导者。
　　通过免费非正规教育及继续教育计划的努力，许多年轻时错过现代教育的人享有了受教育的机会。不丹政府的这一计划，得到了联合国儿童基金会和联合国教科文组织的大力支持。由中国政府创立和大力支持的崇高的孔子教育奖，无论是在不丹，还是在很多处于同一发展阶段的其他国家，都必将为促进农村人口扫盲和赋权事业的发展起到积极的推动作用。
　　我谨代表不丹王国政府和教育部，向联合国教科文组织和中国政府创立孔子教育奖以表彰、激励这些为改变世界千千万万人命运而服务的个人和机构，表示高度的赞赏和衷心的感谢。
　　更毋庸置疑的是，这一奖项，无论是对于政府中政策制定者、规划者等成员们所付出的不懈努力，还是对国际发展领域合作伙伴们所给予的支持、对参与非正规教育计划的教员们的辛苦工作、对家庭主妇们的热情和努力、以及对成年人们强烈的求知渴望，都是高度的认可。
    孔子教育奖和你们所给予的认可，必将使我们更加坚定高质量、高速度地推进这一计划的决心，也必将有力地激发学习者和包括国家政府以及国际合作伙伴在内的计划实施者们的积极性。
　　最后，我还要向这次颁奖活动的东道主山东省人民政府、济宁市人民政府和济宁市教育局所给予我的盛情接待表示最衷心的感谢！
　　再次深切感谢！

　　泽旺·坦丁

　　不丹

　　Distinguished delegates, fellow awardees to the international literacy award, ladies and gentlemen.
　　Firstly, I would like to thank UNESCO and the Chinese Government, particularly, the Chinese National commission for UNESCO, for making it possible for me to represent my country at this most spectacular Award Ceremony of the Confucius Prize for Literacy.
　　Bhutan is a very small country with a population of only 700,000lodged between two great nations, China and India. Our modern education began only in the early Sixties. I am among the first generation to benefit from the modern education. As a result we have large percentage of citizens who missed the opportunity to go to schools. Our Adult Literacy rate is less than 60%, while our Net Primary enrollment is around 97%.
　　The Royal Government of Bhutan firmly recognizes Education as the condition and the central element for achieving social, cultural and economic goals of Bhutan. It is in this context, the Royal government accords highest priority to providing education for every Bhutanese.

　　The Non formal Education system, to deliver basic literacy and numeracy skills in Dzongkha, was introduced in the country in 1990 to reach out to citizens, especially women who missed out school attendance, as reported above. The 953 plus NFE centers spread across the length and breadth of our country have enabled some 160000 village women and men to acquire the gift of literacy, increasing life chances, ensuring safer motherhood, securing better child care and healthier lifestyle. Many hitherto illiterate villagers have now become local leaders.
　　Thanks to the effort of free non formal education, and continuing education, many of the people who missed out on modern education at the young age are now able to access education. The efforts of the Government is very much supported by UNICEF and UNESCO. The noble initiative of instituting the Confucius Literacy Award supported by the Chinese Government will indeed go a long way in accelerating the pace of literacy and empowerment of the rural population not only in Bhutan but in many other countries that are in same stage of development.

　　I on behalf of the Royal Government of Bhutan and Ministry of Education would like to commend and thank the UNESCO and the Chinese Government for instituting such an inspiring tradition to acknowledge the services of individuals and institutions that make a difference to the lives of millions of people around the world.

　　Needless to mention though, the award is in recognition of the tireless efforts of many players- the policy makers and planners in the Government, support from International Development partners, the hard work of non formal education instructors and teachers, and above all the dedication and passion of our house wives, adult men and women who showed exceptional thirst for learning.

　　And with this award and recognition you have conferred on us today, our resolve to do more in terms of quality and acceleration is strengthened. As this provides the much needed motivation and encouragement to both the learners and the providers, including the National Government and the International partners.

　　Finally, I would like to thank the organizers for the exceptional hospitality: ShandongPeople’s Government, Jining People’s Government and Jining Education Bureau.
　　Thank you and TASHI DELEK.

　　Tshewang Tandin

　　Bhutan