Committee:

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)

Country:

Austria

Delegate:

Bryan Mikail Zaharias, Universitas Padjadjaran Indonesia

Topic A:

Establishing international standards for the teaching of history

History is an essential school subject. Teaching of history to student can develop an

understanding of the cultural heritage of mankind, or provide a measure of background
knowledge for the appreciation of literature, art and ways of life of other people1. History also
has a key political role to play in today's world. It can contribute to greater understanding,
tolerance and confidence between individuals and between all nations - or it can become a
force for division, violence and intolerance2. Austria support the idea of this topic, because all
nations have a different point of view regarding teaching of history. Therefore, the
standardization in teaching of history is urgently needed. Beside the difference about point of
view, we also pointed out that Subjectivity in history have long made of this subject as a weapon
rather than an instrument of knowledge and dialogue between countries3. Subjectivity in history
could disturb relations between countries that had a conflict in past. It would be desirable not to
introduce into the past contemporary national antagonisms. Therefore if there is no discussion
or classification for the teaching of history between teachers from countries that had a conflict,
the subjectivity in history would still appear and it would threaten the international security.
Austria has become member states and actively involved in Council of Europe. At the Vienna
Summit in October 1993, the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe's
member States stressed the urgent need to strengthen "programmes aimed at eliminating
prejudice in the teaching of history by emphasising positive mutual influences between
countries, religions and ideas in the historical development of Europe". As a follow-up to this
recommendation, the Council of Europe is carrying out a project to identify innovatory
approaches to the teaching of the history of Europe in the spirit of the Vienna Declaration and to
provide curriculum developers and teachers with practical advice. The results of the Project will
be available at the end of 19954.
Here wed like to propose several points that could consider to be the solutions in regards this
topic. First, From early on, the Council of Europe has encouraged its Member States to confront
and revise their textbooks in order to dispel the erroneous clichs and interpretations
concerning their neighbour states. Therefore, we suggest cooperation to focuses on issues
1 http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0005/000569/056926eo.pdf

2
http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/education/historyteaching/Source/Results/AdoptedTexts/Rec
1283_en.pdf
3 http://hub.coe.int/what-we-do/culture-and-nature/teaching-history
4 http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/education/historyteaching/Source/Results/General/Bias&Prejudice_en.pdf

related to the content of history textbooks to eliminate prejudice, on the modernisation of

teaching programmes and curricula. Second, we suggest UN-bodies to provide a discussion
between teachers and also researchers of history to assure the continued updating and renewal
of the content of history teaching. Third, we recommend all nations to develop a new approach
in history beside textbooks. Using a movie, radio, and other technology are gradually extending
the range and impact of historical subjects. Austria hopes this Committee will achieve the draft
resolutions in standardization for the teaching of history, in order to keep and maintain the
international security between countries.