j) to provide upon request and in furtherance of the objectives of this Protocol, technical assistance to Member States, Organs and Technical Committees; k) to progressively achieve the equivalence,harmonisation and standardisation of the education and training systems in the region which is the ultimate objective of this Protocol; 1) to achieve gradually and over a period not exceeding twenty years from the date of entry into force of this Protocol the implementation of the ultimate objective; 3 The sub-Sector shall have the following organs as the institutional arrangements for implementa tion of this Protocol:a) the Committee of Ministers; b) the Committee of Senior Officials; c) the HRD Sector Co-ordinating Unit which shall be the Secretariat of the sub-Sector; 4 (a) (b) The sub-Sector shall have the following technical committees which shall report to the Committee of Senior Officials - i) the Technical Committee on Basic Education (Primary and Secondary levels); ii) the Technical Committee on Intermediate Education and Training (Teacher Education, Vocational Education and Technical Training); iii) the Technical Committee on Higher Education and Training and Research and Development; iv) the Technical Committee on Life-long Education and Training; v) the Technical Committee on the Training Fund; vi) Technical Committee on Certification and Accreditation; vii) the Technical Committee on Distance Education. The Sub-Sector may, from time to time, establish additional Technical Committees as the need arises. ARTICLE 12 COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE ORGANS 1 The organs established by Article 11 shall comprise the following a) the Committee of Ministers shall comprise of one Minister from each member State, preferably a Minister responsible for Education and Training; b) the Committee of Senior Officials shall consist of Senior Officials responsible for Education and Training in the Member States. Each Member State shall appoint a representative; 21