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Media Releases - 2002

UNESCO Director General visits Coburg Islamic College to promote cultural harmony

6 May 2002

The Director General of United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Mr Koichiro Matsuura, will visit the King Khalid Islamic College in Coburg on Tuesday, 7 May.

Mr Matsuura is in Melbourne to attend the Australian National Commission for UNESCO.

The CEO of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and UNESCO delegate, Ms Susan Pascoe, will accompany Mr Matsuura to the King Khalid Islamic College where he will be met by the College Principal, Mr Salman.

Mr Matsuura will tour the school meeting students and staff.

The King Khalid Islamic College is one of a number of schools participating in the Harmony Through Understanding project. This project draws together students from different denominations, ethnic groups and school sectors. The students participate in a series of forums where they learn to understand more about each other and get to know something of each others faiths and backgrounds.

The project grew from the will of a few to transform what they saw as a negative response to Islamic students following events in New York last year. The project demonstrates how an optimistic response by members of the education community has created an environment in which students can share common values and learn new things about each other.

A variety of artistic and sporting activities are organised around these forums to allow students to build on relationships and pursue personal development – to get to know more about each other. Students gain an opportunity to talk about their differences and their similarities, working together in an atmosphere of understanding.

Organisers of the project hope that such gatherings will break down racial stereotypes and assist students to have contact with different ethnic groups and faiths. The notion that these groups will grow in number is one of the primary goals of the organisers.

Mr Matsuura's will visit the school at 11:10 am on Tuesday, 7 May, after which he will attend a luncheon at the VCAA, to meet with senior VCAA staff, DE&T officials and other prominent members of the education community.

Further information: Vera Hemkes, Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority on (03) 9651 4557.

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