UNESCO’s Fundamental Education Program, 1946–1958: Vision, Actions and Impact

Abstract

Fundamental education was part of UNESCO’s initial program adopted by the General Conference in 1946. This chapter explores its origins, vision, scope and activities until the General Conference in 1958 decided to abandon the concept of fundamental education.¹ No decision was taken on what should replace it and in practice no single term was chosen. “Out of school education” and “community development” were widely used as direct replacements.² The already well-established “adult education” was also used for some activities that would before 1958 most likely have been called “fundamental education”. For the purpose of this chapter it therefore makes sense to end at that point, although the idea of fundamental education as a way of addressing the broad needs of communities rather than implementing standardized, specific solutions remained important for UNESCO’s work in education in the years that followed.