The first aim of the book is to review the status of the topic from the standpoint of public policies and the conceptual frameworks on which they are based. It will also attempt to shed light on what may be called ‘good practice’. The findings of the study are meant to serve not as models but rather as points of reference for all those who are seeking ways of developing education in rural areas and contributing more effectively to rural development. They will be disseminated widely in the international arena and will lead to consultations with the countries concerned, at the regional and in some cases national levels, and with the donor community, in order to ensure that rural people’s learning needs are truly taken into account in education aid policies. The book will also be a tool to support the operational activities of the Education for rural people flagship, a global partnership initiative co-ordinated by FAO and UNESCO as part of the Education for All strategy.
