3 4 Member States hereby agree that in order to eradicate illiteracy, each Member State shall strive to provide universal basic education providing for at least nine years of schooling. Member States agree that where necessary and appropriate but without prejudice to the normal admission requirements, socially disadvantaged groups shall be given special support in admis sion to basic education in order to balance access to education; 5 Member States acknowledge that basic education shall strive to provide life long skills; 6 Member States agree that whilst education at primary and secondary level shall continue to be largely the responsibility of each Member State, co-operation and mutual assistance is possible and shall take place in the following areas, among others:a) curriculum design and development to ensure provision of high quality and relevant basic education and to move the education systems towards comparability, harmonisation and eventual standardisation; b) joint development, provision and exchange of educational materials to improve the quality and relevance of education; c) exchange of experiences, ideas and information to broaden the knowledge base and skills of curriculum developers, teachers, trainers and education managers; d) development of national examinations and accreditation systems to move the education systems towards harmonised, equivalent, and eventually standardised certification; ARTICLE 6 CO-OPERATION IN INTERMEDIATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING: CERTIFICATE AND DIPLOMA LEVELS 1 Member States hereby agree that intermediate education and training provides the requisite middle level personnel for various sectors of the economy and its effective development. 2 Member States acknowledge that intermediate education and training provides knowledge, skills and attitudes which also underpin and support the application of professional and higher level knowledge and skills and that it is therefore important to expand the opportunities for and improve the standards of intermediate education and training. 3 Member States agree that whilst education and training at intermediate level shall continue to be largely the responsibility of each Member State, co-operation and mutual assistance are both desirable and possible and shall take place in the following areas, among others:a) Teacher Education i) curriculum design and development to ensure high quality and relevant teacher education and to move the teacher education systems towards comparability, harmonisation and eventual standardisation; 9