Cape Verdean President Monteiro speaks at Primary SourceThe first democratically elected president of Cape Verde, Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro (1991-2001) launched the 2007-2008 Public Event series at Primary Source on October 17. He spoke of the central role of teachers in a developing country, saying that "the key to achieving progress and development is to focus on the people, especially youth [because] they will bear the responsibility and duty of leading tomorrow." Education has been the first priority for the Cape Verdean government since independence in 1975, he said, adding that "Teachers deserve respect and unconditional support." After his prepared remarks, the president answered questions from the audience, ranging from the role of the World Bank, the political leader he admires the most (Nelson Mandela), to China's relationship with African nations. President Monteiro noted the significance of the Cape Verdean Diaspora in supporting development in the homeland both with remittances and investments, and he identified sustainable development as the future challenge for Cape Verde.
|
Educating for Global Understanding
