*By Edward Felsenthal*
In a world that is changing rapidly, access to free education has become essential for sustainable development and for the growth and success of children. Although international treaties only guarantee a right to free education at the primary level, more and more countries are recognizing the insufficiency of this and are enacting national laws to expand the right to free education to pre-primary and secondary levels.
According to a new report by UNESCO, countries with laws guaranteeing free education have significantly higher rates of children in school. While political commitments to free education are important, they are not enough, and national legislation is crucial to expand access to this essential human right.
The benefits of pre-primary education, which takes place during the early years of a child’s life when their brain is rapidly developing, cannot be overstated. Despite this, many low-income families cannot afford pre-primary education. However, since 2015, sixteen countries have adopted laws to provide or expand free pre-primary education, leading to a significant increase in participation rates.
For instance, Azerbaijan saw participation rates in pre-primary education increase from 25 percent to 83 percent in just four years after enacting legislation that provided three years of free pre-primary education. Similarly, Armenia and Uzbekistan experienced substantial increases in pre-primary education participation rates after adopting laws to expand free pre-primary education.
Sierra Leone is the most recent country to expand free education for children. In 2018, the government launched an ambitious program, the Free Quality School Education initiative, to offer free education from pre-primary through secondary schools. By 2021, enrollment across all school levels increased significantly from 2 million students to 3.1 million, with the largest gains coming from low-income families. Additionally, on April 24, Sierra Leone enshrined free education in its national law. As a result, Sierra Leone children are now legally guaranteed 13 years of free schooling, from pre-primary through secondary school.
While the trend of national legislation to expand free education is encouraging, progress in providing access to education for the millions of children who are out of school is too slow. Therefore, international law more explicitly guaranteeing at least one year of free pre-primary and free secondary education is necessary to accelerate progress at the global level and turn political commitments into binding legal obligations.
### The Importance of Free Education for Sustainable Development
Sustainable development largely depends on education, which is essential for creating opportunities for individuals and societies to achieve their full potential. Free education is particularly crucial, as it enables access to education for underprivileged children and helps reduce inequality.
Education provides skills and knowledge to individuals, which in turn can help them improve their standard of living and develop a sense of agency. Moreover, education is critical in shaping individuals’ attitudes and values, leading to more democratic societies and a reduction in conflict.
However, it is not just enough to have access to education; the quality of education needs to be appropriate as well. For instance, education should foster values of inclusion, equality, diversity, and respect for human rights to create more equitable and just societies.
### The Need for International Law to Guarantee Free Education Rights
While it is critical for national governments to enact legislation that expands free education rights, international law setting minimum standards is necessary to accelerate progress at the global level. Countries must fulfill their obligations undersigned by global treaties and agreements towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
All countries have agreed to provide access to pre-primary education for all and ensure all children receive free secondary school education by 2030. However, among countries that have established specific education benchmarks as part of the SDGs, barely one in three is on track to reach these targets.
Furthermore, NGOs and civil society groups must continue advocating for the right to free education for all. They must also urge governments to prioritize education budgets and ensure that education funding is used effectively and reaches those who need it most, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
In conclusion, education is a fundamental human right that must be fulfilled for sustainable development and to ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. National governments must enact laws to guarantee free education, and international law setting minimum standards will accelerate progress towards that goal.
<< photo by Kelli Tungay >>