ST. PETERSBURG, April 7 (RIA Novosti) - Students from member countries of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations said Friday affordable high-quality education should be given due prominence at July's G8 summit due in St. Petersburg.
The Junior 8 Summit adopted a final communique on the final day of its own forum in Russia's second biggest city, calling on the leaders of the world's eight richest nations to improve public education.
Specifically, the meeting proposed this could be achieved through promoting student exchange programs and academic tutorship, creating databases on education, providing social guarantees for students and expanding the network of vocational schools.
The gathering also suggested that education be used as a tool to eradicate extremism among young people, raise their tolerance toward other ethnicities and cultures, and create opportunities for integration through community service and sports.
The Group of Eight leading industrialized nations, of which Russia currently holds the rotating presidency, will hold its summit in St. Petersburg July 15-17.
