2. Member States agree to formulate national policies on distance education so as to provide a framework for co-operation at the regional level. 3. Member States agree that where no distance learning institutions exist in a Member State, that Member State shall establish distance learning institutions to cater for all levels of education and training. 4. Member States hereby agree to the establishment of a SADC Distance Education Centre which will contribute towards improving and strengthening distance education and training systems in the region through collaborative efforts. 5 Member States agree to promote co-operation among distance education institutions in the Region in the design, production and dissemination of distance learning materials, in the training of distance educators and trainers and in teaching some of their programmes. 6 Member States agree to encourage and support the creation of regional professional associations in distance education and exchange of personnel through which the institutions shall share ideas, views and experiences to enhance the quality and relevance of their programmes. (B) ADULT EDUCATION 1 Member States agree that the objectives of adulteducation are, among others:a) to improve access to education and training and to reduce inequalities in the acquisition of education and training; b) to work towards achieving universal literacy and numeracy; c) to train adult educators and trainers and to contribute to community development; d) to develop life skills. 2 Member States agree that where no institutes or departments of adult education exist in a Member State, that Member State shall establish these for the purpose of contributing to the national efforts to achieve universal literacy and numeracy, training adult educators and conducting research and evaluation in the areas of adult education, literacy and numeracy programmes. 3 Member States agree that adult education institutions shall be involved in a broad range of activities involving the education of adults and community development. 4 Member States agree to promote co-operation among institutes, centres and departments of adult education in the Region,in the design and production of teaching materials, and shall teach some of their courses jointly where possible. They shall be encouraged to conduct collaborative research in their fields of competence. 17