IX. Make a summary of the text “Education”.

X. Render the following text orally.

Indigenous children were more likely to attend school if their communities participated in all decisions about the content and management of their educational systems, a top official of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) told the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Rima Salah said indigenous children would feel comfortable in schools if they harmonized with their culture and traditions in a language they understood. Studies had shown that education conducted in their mother tongue allowed children to learn more quickly and transfer skills to another language.

She added that education for indigenous children meant learning about their own community’s traditions. Emphasizing that non-indigenous children should also receive intercultural education, she said they could then learn about indigenous cultures and languages and positive inputs indigenous people made to overall society.

Bringing together some 1,500 indigenous leaders, this year’s Forum aims to draw up recommendations for the United Nations system in the areas of economic and social development, environment, health, human rights, culture and education.

Speakers underscored the importance of linking educational quality with attention to indigenous language, culture and traditional knowledge.

Illustrating a case where indigenous people had actually gained control over education, Norway’s delegate said her Government had placed it under the authority of Saami parliament. All Saami pupils could receive imstruction in both their language and Norwegian, while the Saami parliament ensured that their education truly reflected Saami culture. The forum stressed the importance of a clear and comprehensive recognition of indigenous rights at the international level.

Use the following plan for rendering the text:

1. The title (the headline).

2. The main idea of the text.

3. The bulk of the text (the beginning, the main content, the final part).

4. What conclusions does the author arrive at?

5. Your opinion of the text.

XI. Discuss the problems of the Russian education system with your partner arguing for or against the following statement:

The quality of education services corresponds to the strategic goals of the Russian education system.

1.2.3. Environment

Read the text to fulfil the tasks

As a result of increasing economic and political stability over the past years, the economy of Russia is experiencing a steady economic growth, which is likely to continue and to come along with a growing demand for energy and natural resources. The Russian economy remains among the most energy intensive in the world. Russia’s Adjusted Net Savings index falls far below the world and European average. Forecasts of emissions and discharges of major pollutants show that urban air pollution will remain a serious problem, while water pollution and drinking water quality will increasingly become a problem in the long run. The rate of land degradation and ecosystem fragmentation threatens security and wealth of future generations. In addition, Climate Change will pose new emerging threats to the population and economy in particular in the Russian Arctic and in the Southern regions.

Russia’s Ecological Doctrine and the Law on Environmental Protection were adopted in January 2002 and represent the governmental commitment to environmental protection. Energy security and food security are broadly recognized as national priorities. In addition, Russia is a party to multilateral environmental agreements and conventions. In order for Russia to fully realize its vast potential for improvements in energy efficiency and reduction in pollution, it will be necessary to eliminate the economic, structural and institutional barriers that currently discourage investors in these areas. With the recognition of development challenges faced by the Russian economy, there is an urgent need to mainstream the concept of environmental sustainability into political, economic and social agendas of contemporary Russia.