A major project intended to improve education in the Latin American and the Caribbean countries is described. Representatives from the various countries participated in intergovernmental meetings and reached an agreement that there was a need for a project to meet unsatisfied basic educational needs by the year 2000. The specific project objectives are: (1) to ensure that by 1999 all school-age children receive schooling and are provided with a minimum of 8 to 10 years' general education; (2) to eradicate illiteracy before the end of the century and to develop and extend educational services for adults; and (3) to improve the quality and efficiency of educational systems by carrying out the necessary reforms. The project will give priority to the least privileged population groups and will involve changes and innovations in the orientation, content, and methods of education. For example, heritage and cultural values will be taught and the teaching of science and technology will be improved. Each country's own efforts will be supported by intercountry, subregional, regional, and international cooperation. (RM)