A five-point program to enable the World ORT Union to fulfill its principal tasks in various parts of the world was put forward here today by Professor William Haber, president of the ORT central board, at a three-day conference of the organization attended by 250 delegates from 30 countries.
United States Assistant Secretary of Labor George L. P. Weaver and Israel’s Minister of Labor Yigal Allon were among the major speakers at the conference. Prof. Haber’s program calls for:
1. The preparation of both emergency and long range plans in vocational training to take care of present and future Jewish refugee migration which continues on a massive scale in many parts of the world.
2. The large scale expansion of ORT activities on behalf of more than 120,000 North African repatriates and refugees to facilitate their economic integration in France.
3. The creation in Israel of a comprehensive nationwide program of training for 10,000 to 15,000 youth of recent immigrant origin along with a program for the accelerated growth of the present ORT schools in Israel which have an annual enrollment of 16,000.
4. Expanded technical assistance programs of skilled training for people in developing nations.
5. The introduction of training in new occupational fields in line with changes produced by changing technology and automation “which is now penetrating all industries even in those nations just beginning on the path of economic modernization.”
Other speakers at the conference included Ambassador Felix Schnyder, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; David A. Morse, director general of the International Labor Organization; E. Nicholson, director of the Education Department of UNESCO; Charles H. Jordan, overseas director general of the Joint Distribution Committee; E. Laor, European representative of the Jewish Agency; V. Gourmasky, director general of the Jewish Colonization Association and Admiral Louis Kahn, president designate of the Alliance Israelite Universelle.
United States Congressman James Roosevelt read a message from President Kennedy which declared: “Your work enables many to acquire the skills needed for economic independence. I particularly commend your efforts to those African and Asian nations which have so recently joined the world community. Your contributions are essential to these countries as they strive towards their economic, educational and technological goals.”
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