4 0 S O U T H E R N A F R I C A N D E V E L O P M E N T C O M M U N I T Y the region in the global economy as well as improving the there are a number of areas, which require improvement. quality of lives of the region's population. This area also For instance, the objectives of the Protocol on Education has an important role to play in consolidating the and Training do not make specific and/or direct reference to historical, social and cultural ties and affinities of the or mention gender or gender mainstreaming; people with peoples of the region. disabilities and other disadvantaged groups; poverty SADC has put in place policies, strategies and priorities eradication; economic growth and development; or HIV and through the formulation and adoption of instruments such AIDS control and other cross-sectoral linkages - although a as protocols and appropriate policy guidelines. These are regional cooperation approach is fully implied. Emphasis examined in the subsequent sections. should be put on gender mainstreaming and equality in the development of educational and training materials, 3.5.2 HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT composition of professional associations, teacher/student exchange programmes, and exchange of experiences as well as inclusion of HIV and AIDS in the curriculum. 3.5.2.1 Review of Current Policies and Strategies 3.5.2.3 The main goal of SADC 's integration agenda in the human Challenges of Policies and Strategies resources development field is to increase the availability The challenges faced by Education and Training in the of educated and highly skilled personnel through sub-region are largely common to all countries. These equivalent and harmonized education and training are access, equity, quality, efficiency, relevance and systems of Member States. democracy in their educational and training policies. The Protocol on Education and Training, which was Other challenges of the sector include: HIV and signed in September 1997 and came into force in July AIDS's negative impact on the education and training 2000, provides for seven main areas of cooperation, sector; low literacy rates; low enrolment rates especially namely, policy for education and training, basic at secondary and higher education levels; limited education, intermediate education and training, higher provision of early child hood education; inequitable education, distance education, training fund, research access especially by disadvantaged groups such as and development, lifelong education and training, women and disabled people and people from rural areas; publishing and library resources. The Protocol seeks to limited access to vocational education and training; promote a regionally integrated and harmonized educa- mismatch between supply and demand for vocational tional system especially with regard to issues pertaining education and training, and higher education and to access, equity, relevance, and quality of education training; inadequate education and training facilities and interventions. The Protocol aims to achieve its objectives equipment; shortage of teaching and learning materials; over a period of twenty years. lack of comparable standards and qualification across all In order to implement the provisions of the Protocol, training institutions and countries. a Strategic Plan covering the abovementioned seven areas of cooperation was developed in 2002. The Plan has included other cross cutting issues such as HIV and AIDS 3.5.3 HEALTH pandemic. In the identification of priorities, relevant and complementary regional and international initiatives, 3.5.3.1 such as those coordinated through UN agencies and Review of Current Policies and Strategies NEPAD, were taken into account to avoid duplication. In the area of health, the main goal of integration is to attain an acceptable standard of health for all SADC 3.5.2.2 citizens and to reach specific targets within the objective Evaluation of Current Policies and Strategies of "Health for All" in the twenty first century by 2020 in all The Policy Framework on Human Resource Development Member States through the primary health care strategy. and the HRD Strategic Plan is comprehensive and The SADC Policy Framework for Health provides a addresses the major challenges facing the region. However, comprehensive coverage of all the key aspects of health