UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) came into
existence 4th November 1946 and it was recognized as a specialized agency of the UN on 14 th December
1946. This organization aims at promoting world peace by constructing defenses for peace in the minds of
men. It wants to promote greater understanding of each other’s ways and lives, and remove suspicion and
distrust which are responsible for the war.

Organization: This organization of UNESCO consists of three organs;

a) General Conference,
b) Executive Board. And
c) Secretariat.

The General Conference is the governing body, it consists of representatives of the member-states
and each member-state can send 5 representatives but possess only one vote. This Conference
determines the main lines of work of the organization. It can summon international conferences on
education, the sciences and humanities and dissemination of knowledge. It elects the members of the
Executive Board and with the consent of Board appoints the Director General of the Secretariat.

The Executive Board is composed of 58 members elected by the General Conference who are
competent in arts, the humanities, the sciences and education, etc. and they are elected for a period of 3
years and they can be reelected. The Board is responsible for the execution of programmes adopted by
the Conference.

The Secretariat consists of a Director General and such other staff as maybe required. This Director
General is appointed by the General Conference on the recommendation of the Executive Board for a
period of six years. The other members of the staff are appointed by the Director-General in accordance
with the regulations approved by the General Conference.

FUNCTIONS OF UNESCO: This Organization performs three types of functions; viz—

1. It tries to promote education among children as well as adults by providing educational materials, books,
fellowships and study grants to the war devastated countries. It helps in the promotion of education by
providing advice and expert assistance on matters like teachers training, school construction, preparation
of curricula and textbooks, etc. It also set up a Regional Research and Training Centre and an International
and an International Institute of Educational Planning at Paris.
2. UNESCO helps in bringing about improvement in the teaching of basic sciences at various levels. It also
encourages basic research in fields like mathematics, physics, geology, oceanography etc. it also
encourages application of science and technology to development and has helped the developing
countries by appointing advisory missions, arranging regional conferences and training scientists,
technicians and technologists.
3. The UNESCO has also attached great importance to problems of human rights and socio-economic
implications of disarmament. It helps the member states in the preservation and protection of their
cultural heritage and gives every possible encouragement to artistic activities. It encourages translation of
the important works of different countries to make the literature available to different countries etc.