This co-operative education and training session in Rwanda demonstrates the importance of members understanding the values and principles that are the foundation of all co-operatives. This is achieved through education, training, and information especially for young people, women, and opinion-leaders on the nature and advantages of co-operation.

The first phrase, "Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees" , is a simple statement of what all co-operatives ought to do. Co-operatives ignore the responsibility of providing education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees at their peril. this is an essential activity because it is fundamental to the success and sustainability of any co-operative enterprise.

The first sentence ends with a purposeful qualifying phrase: "so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operative". this is, of course, the primary aim of co-operative education: to enable the development of a successful and sustainable co-operative enterprise. It would be wrong, however, to interpret this phrase narrowly. As the introduction to this Guidance Note explains, co-operatives have always understood the wider value of education. Members of co-operatives in nations where many lack formal educational opportunity or with members who did not prosper at school, may need the opportunity to acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills in order fully to participate in their co-operative.

"They inform the general public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of co-operation." this sentence shows that a co-operative's commitment to education is not simply inward facing to members, elected members, managers and employees, but outward facing too. It requires co-operatives to "inform the general public ... about the nature and benefits of co-operation". this obligation to inform others about the nature and benefits of co-operatives applies "particularly" to "young people and opinion leaders". the meaning of "young people" is self-evident: it is the next and upcoming generation. "Opinion leaders" means all those who influence public opinion including politicians, public servants, media representatives, and educators.

It is worth noting the three distinct ingredients of education in this 5th Principle: "education", "training" and "information", each of which has a different part to play in co-operative education.

"Education" is about understanding the Co-operative Principles and values and knowing how to apply them in the day-to-day operations of a co-operative business. It is also concerned with the wider education offered to members for their social development. Co-operative education involves engaging the minds of members, elected leaders, managers and employees so that they comprehend fully the complexity and richness of co-operative thought and action and its social impact.

"Training" is about developing the practical skills members and employees need to run a co-operative in accordance with efficient and ethical business practices and to democratically control their co-operative business responsibly and transparently. In all co-operatives there is also a need for training of employees and elected officers in order to run the business of a co-operative efficiently in a competitive economy.

"Information" is a duty to make sure that others who are members of the general public, but "particularly young people and opinion leaders", know about co-operative enterprise. the knowledge to be imparted by information is not just a marketing exercise about a co-operative or the services it provides, nor is it propaganda. It is a duty to inform the wider public about the values and principles-based nature of co-operative enterprise and the wider benefits to human society co-operative enterprise brings. too many co-operatives in too many countries ignore this responsibility. Without education, information and training, people will not appreciate or support what they do not understand.

Why "particularly young people and opinion leaders"? "Young people": because as the guidance to the 2nd Principle explained, every democratic member-controlled organisation is only as good as the next generation of its members. Most importantly, for the sake of the future of the planet and of civilised society, it is to the benefit of young people that they understand the social, economic and environmental advantages sustainable co-operative enterprise creates. "Opinion leaders": because, as was explained in the guidance to the 4th Principle, opinion leaders need to understand the distinct nature of co-operative enterprise and the values and principles on which it is based in order to fulfil internationally accepted norms which require that co-operatives are treated no less favourably than any other type of enterprise.