Convention on Technical and
Vocational Education
Adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO at its twenty-fifth
session Paris, 10 November 1989
PREAMBLE
The General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization, meeting at Paris from 17 October 1989 to 16 November
1989 at its twenty-fifth session,
Recalling that it is the Organization's constitutional duty
to promote and develop education,
Recalling also the principles set forth in Articles 23 and 26
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which relate to the right
to work and to education, the principles contained in the Convention against
discrimination in Education, adopted in Paris on 14 December 1960, the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted in New York
on 16 December 1966 as well as the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination against Women, adopted by the United Nations General
Assembly on 18 December 1979,
Recognizing that the development of technical and vocational
education should contribute to the safeguarding of peace and friendly understanding
among nations,
Having noted the provisions of the Revised Recommendation concerning
Technical and Vocational Education, and the Recommendation concerning Education
for International Understanding, Co-operation and Peace and Education relating
to Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, both adopted by the General Conference
at its eighteenth session in 1974,
Having noted further the provisions of the Recommendation on
the Development of Adult Education, adopted by the General Conference in
1976 and the Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, adopted
by the Special Intergovernmental Conference in 1966,
Taking into account the relevant recommendations of the International
Conference on Education,
Bearing in mind the provisions of the Convention (No. 142) and
Recommendation (No. 150) concerning Vocational Guidance and Vocational
Training in the Development of Human Resources, adopted by the International
Labour Conference at its sixtieth session in 1975,
Noting further the close collaboration between Unesco and the
International Labour Organization in drawing up their respective instruments
so that they pursue harmonious objectives and with a view to continuing
fruitful collaboration,
Considering the need to make a special effort to promote the
technical and vocational education of women and girls,
Paying special attention to the diversity of education systems
and socio-economic and cultural conditions, in particular those in developing
countries which need special considerations and provisions,
Considering that, in spite of this diversity, generally similar
objectives are pursued and that similar problems arise in many countries,
making it desirable to develop common guidelines in technical and vocational
education,
Recognizing that the pace of technological, social and economic
development has considerably increased the need to expand and improve the
technical and vocational education provided for both young people and adults,
Recognizing that technical and vocational education meets the
global aim of developing both individuals and societies,
Convinced of the need for the exchange of information and experiences
in the development of technical and vocational education and of the desirability
of strengthening international co-operation in this field,
Convinced of the utility of an international legal instrument
to reinforce international collaboration in the development of technical
and vocational education,
Adopts the present Convention this tenth day of November 1989:
ARTICLE 1
The Contracting States agree that:
(a) for the purpose of this Convention 'technical and vocational education'
refers to all forms and levels of the educational process involving, in
addition to general knowledge, the study of technologies and related sciences
and the acquisition of practical skills, know-how, attitudes and understanding
relating to occupations in the various sectors of economic and social life;
(b) this Convention applies to all forms and levels of technical and
vocational education provided in educational institutions or through co-operative
programmes organized jointly by educational institutions, on the one hand,
and industrial, agricultural, commercial or any other undertaking related
to the world of work, on the other;
(c) this Convention shall be applied in accordance with the constitutional
provisions and legislation of each Contracting State.
ARTICLE 2
1. The Contracting States agree to frame policies, to define strategies
and to implement, in accordance with their needs and resources, programmes
and curricula for technical and vocational education designed for young
people and adults, within the framework of their respective education systems,
in order to enable them to acquire the knowledge and know-how that are
essential to economic and social development as well as to the personal
and cultural fulfillment of the individual in society.
2. The general framework for the development of technical and vocational
education shall be determined in each Contracting State by appropriate
legislation or other measures indicating:
(a) the objectives to be attained in technical and vocational fields,
taking into consideration economic, social and cultural development needs
and the personal fulfillment of the individual;
(b) the relationship between technical and vocational education, on
the one hand, and other types of education, on the other, with particular
reference to horizontal and vertical articulation of programmes;
(c) the structures for administrative organization of technical and
vocational education defined by the responsible authorities;
(d) the roles of the public authorities responsible for economic, social
and development planning in the various sectors of the economy and, where
applicable, of professional associations, workers, employers and other
interested parties.
3. The Contracting States shall guarantee that no individual who has
attained the educational level for admission into technical and vocational
education shall be discriminated against on the grounds of race, colour,
sex, language, religion, national or social origin, political or other
opinions, economic status, birth, or on any other grounds.
The Contracting States shall work towards the right to equal access
to technical and vocational education and towards equality of opportunity
to study throughout the educational process.
4. The Contracting States shall pay attention to the special needs
of the handicapped and other disadvantaged groups and take appropriate
measures to enable these groups to benefit from technical and vocational
education.
ARTICLE 3
1. The Contracting States agree to provide and develop technical and vocational
education programmes that take account of:
(a) the educational, cultural and social background of the population
concerned and its vocational aspirations;
(b) the technical and professional skills, knowledge and levels of
qualification needed in the various sectors of the economy, and the technological
and structural changes to be expected;
(c) employment opportunities and development prospects at the national,
regional and local levels;
(d) protection of the environment and the common heritage of mankind;
(e) occupational health, safety and welfare.
2. Technical and vocational education should be designed to operate
within a framework of open-ended and flexible structures in the context
of lifelong education and provide:
(a) an introduction to technology and to the world of work for all
young people within the context of general education;
(b) educational and vocational guidance and information, and aptitude
counseling;
(c) development of an education designed for the acquisition and development
of the knowledge and know-how needed for a skilled occupation;
(d) a basis for education and training that may be essential for occupational
mobility, improvement of professional qualifications and updating of knowledge,
skills and understanding;
(e) complementary general education for those receiving initial technical
and vocational training in the form of on-the-job or other training both
inside and outside technical and vocational education institutions;
(f) continuing education and training courses for adults with a view,
in particular, to retraining as well as to supplementing and upgrading
the qualifications of those whose current knowledge has become obsolete
because of scientific and technological progress or changes in the employment
structure or in the social and economic situation, and also for those in
special circumstances.
3. Technical and vocational education programmes should meet the technical
requirements of the occupational sectors concerned and also provide the
general education necessary for the personal and cultural development of
the individual and include, inter alia, social, economic and environmental
concepts relevant to the occupation concerned.
4. The Contracting States agree to tender support and advice to undertakings
outside educational institutions which take part in co-operative programmes
of technical and vocational education.
5. At each occupational level, the competence required must be defined
as clearly as possible and curricula must be continuously updated to incorporate
new knowledge and technical processes.
6. In assessing the ability to carry out occupational activities and
determining appropriate awards in technical and vocational education, account
should be taken of both the theoretical and practical aspects of the technical
field in question, and this should apply both to persons who have received
training and to persons who have acquired occupational experience in employment.
ARTICLE 4
The Contracting States agree to review periodically the structure of technical
and vocational education, study programmes, plans, training methods and
materials, as well as forms of co-operation between the school system and
the world of work, so as to ensure that they are constantly adapted to
scientific and technological progress, to cultural progress and to changing
employment needs in the various sectors of the economy, and that advances
in educational research and innovation are taken into account with a view
to application of the most effective teaching methods.
ARTICLE 5
1. The Contracting States agree that all persons teaching in the field
of technical and vocational education, whether working full time or part
time, should have adequate knowledge, theoretical and practical, of their
professional field of competence as well as appropriate teaching skills
consistent with the type and level of the courses they are required to
teach.
2. Persons teaching in technical and vocational education should be
given the opportunity to update their technical information, knowledge
and
skills through special courses, practical training periods in enterprises
and any other organized form of activity involving contact with the world
of work; in addition, they should be provided with information on and training
in educational innovations that may have applications in their particular
discipline and be given the opportunity to participate in relevant research
and development.
3. Equal employment opportunities should be offered, without discrimination,
to teachers and other specialized staff in technical and vocational education
and their employment conditions should be such that it is possible to attract,
recruit and retain staff qualified in their areas of competence.
ARTICLE 6
To facilitate international co-operation, the Contracting States agree:
(a) to encourage the collection and dissemination of information concerning
innovations, ideas and experience in technical and vocational education
and to participate actively in international exchanges dealing with study
and teacher-training programmes, methods, equipment standards and textbooks
in the field of technical and vocational education;
(b) to encourage the use in technical and vocational education of international
technical standards applied in industry, commerce and other sectors of
the economy;
(c) to promote approaches to achieving the recognition of equivalencies
of qualifications acquired through technical and vocational education;
(d) to encourage international exchanges of teachers, administrators
and other specialists in technical and vocational education;
(e) to give students from other countries, particularly from developing
countries, the opportunity to receive technical and vocational education
in their institutions, with a view, in particular, to facilitating the
study, acquisition, adaptation, transfer and application of technology;
(f) to promote co-operation in technical and vocational education between
all countries, but in particular between industrialized and developing
countries, in order to encourage the development of the technologies of
the countries;
(g) to mobilize resources for strengthening international co-operation
in the field of technical and vocational education.
ARTICLE 7
The Contracting States shall specify, in periodic reports submitted to
the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization at the dates and in the form determined by it, the
legislative provisions, regulations and other measures adopted by them
to give effect to this Convention.
ARTICLE 8
The following provisions shall apply to those States Parties to this Convention
which have a non-unitary constitutional system:
(a) with regard to the provisions of this Convention, the implementation
of which comes under the legal jurisdiction of the federal or central legislative
power, the obligations of the federal or central government shall be the
same as for those States Parties with a centralized system;
(b) with regard to the provisions of this Convention, the implementation
of which comes under the legal jurisdiction of federated States and constituent
countries, provinces, autonomous communities or cantons that are not obliged
by the general or basic constitutional system of the federation to take
legislative measures, the central government shall inform the competent
authorities of such States, countries, provinces, autonomous communities
or cantons of the said provisions, with its recommendation for their adoption.
ARTICLE 9
Member States of Unesco may becomes Parties to this Convention, as well
as non-Member States of Unesco which have been invited by Unesco's Executive
Board to become Parties, by depositing with the Director-General of Unesco
an instrument of ratification, acceptance, accession, or approval.
ARTICLE 10
This Convention shall enter into force three months after the third instrument
referred to in Article 9 has been deposited, but
solely with respect to the States that have deposited their respective
instruments by that date. It shall enter into force for each other State
three months after that State has deposited its instrument.
ARTICLE 11
1. Each Contracting State shall have the right to denounce this Convention
by formal notification in writing to the Director-General of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
2. The denunciation shall take effect 12 months after the notification
has been received.
ARTICLE 12
The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization shall inform the Member States of the Organization,
the non-Member States covered by Article 9 and
also the United Nations of the deposit of all the instruments referred
to in Article 9 and the denunciations provided
for in Article 11.
ARTICLE 13
1. This Convention may be revised by the General Conference of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Such revision
shall, however, be binding only on States Parties to the revised Convention.
2. Should the General Conference adopt a new Convention entailing a
total or partial revision of this Convention, and unless the new Convention
otherwise provides, this present Convention shall cease to be open to new
States Parties from the date of entry into force of the new revised Convention.
ARTICLE 14
This Convention has been drawn up in Arabic, Chinese, English, French,
Russian and Spanish, the six texts being equally authoritative.
ARTICLE 15
In conformity with Article
102 of the Charter of the United Nations, this Convention shall be
registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations at the request of
the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization.
Done in Paris, this sixteenth day of November 1989, in two authentic
copies bearing the signature of the President of the twenty-fifth session
of the General Conference and of the Director-General of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which shall be deposited
in the archives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, and certified true copies of which shall be delivered to
all the States referred to in Article 9 as well
as to the United Nations.
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