Education for All: Over 70 Nations Unite for the Right to Learn

More than 70 Countries Pledge to Strengthen Right to Free Education

Background

At the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, over 70 countries recently expressed their support for efforts to strengthen the right to education. These countries, representing every region of the world, endorsed the explicit right to free secondary education and at least one year of free pre-primary education. The statement of support was led by Luxembourg and the Dominican Republic, with Brazil going even further by calling for a new international legal instrument to recognize the right of every child to at least one year of preschool and free inclusive public and quality secondary education.

The Need for Strengthening the Right to Education

While the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most widely ratified international human rights treaty, requires primary education to be free and compulsory, it does not explicitly require governments to provide free pre-primary education or secondary education to all children. However, it is widely acknowledged that free primary education is not enough for children to achieve their full potential and thrive in today’s world.

Sierra Leone’s education minister, David Moinina Sengeh, highlighted the positive impact of removing tuition and examination fees in the country. This initiative, launched in 2018, led to a significant increase in school enrollment. This year, Sierra Leone made these changes into law, guaranteeing 13 years of free education, from pre-primary through secondary.

Support from Various Groups

It’s not just governments that are advocating for strengthened international law around free education. Activists, human rights experts, Nobel Prize winners, and over half a million people around the world, as reflected in an open letter from the global civic movement Avaaz, are also calling for the recognition and protection of the right to free education.

Human Rights Watch suggests that the most effective way to enhance international law on the right to education would be through a fourth optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This would provide an additional legal tool to strengthen the global norm that all children have a right to education and support efforts to ensure inclusive and quality education for all.

The Importance of Strengthening International Law

Lucia Fry, the director of research and policy at the Malala Fund, acknowledges that extending the international legal framework alone will not solve all educational challenges. However, she argues that it will serve as an additional support by reinforcing the global norm that all children should have access to education, providing momentum for gender equality in education, and empowering children, parents, activists, and policymakers to advocate for the right to free education.

Editorial

Moving Beyond Primary Education

The pledge of over 70 countries to strengthen the right to education is a significant step forward in ensuring access to quality education for all children. While primary education is crucial, it is not sufficient for children to fully develop and reach their potential. Free and inclusive pre-primary and secondary education are equally important, as they provide foundations for lifelong learning, critical thinking, and skills development.

By endorsing the explicit right to free secondary education and at least one year of free pre-primary education, countries are acknowledging the need to invest in comprehensive educational systems that cater to the diverse needs of children at different stages of their development. This commitment should be commended and supported by the international community.

Closing the Educational Gap

Free education is a key tool in addressing educational inequalities and bridging the gap between privileged and marginalized groups. By removing financial barriers, countries can ensure that all children, regardless of their socio-economic background, have equal opportunities to access education. This is especially crucial for children from marginalized communities, girls, children with disabilities, and those living in poverty.

Strengthening the right to free education is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic investment in the future of societies. Education improves individuals’ ability to participate in the workforce, contributes to economic growth, promotes social cohesion, and fosters democratic values. By prioritizing free education, countries can tackle various societal challenges, such as poverty, inequality, and social exclusion.

Paving the Way for Global Collaboration

Recognition and support for the right to free education at an international level pave the way for meaningful collaboration among countries, organizations, and stakeholders. By working together, governments can learn from each other’s successes and challenges, share best practices, and mobilize resources to ensure that education systems meet the needs of all children.

Global partnerships and collaborations allow countries to leverage their strengths and expertise to promote innovative approaches to education. This includes initiatives focused on teacher training, curriculum development, infrastructure improvement, and the use of technology to enhance educational access and quality.

Advice

Implementing the Pledge

The commitment made by countries to strengthen the right to free education must be followed by concrete actions. Governments need to allocate sufficient resources to ensure the provision of free pre-primary and secondary education for all children. This includes investing in infrastructure, providing adequate teacher training and support, and ensuring the availability of educational resources and materials.

Additionally, countries should focus on addressing the barriers that prevent certain groups of children from accessing education. This may include addressing gender disparities, tackling discrimination, providing inclusive education for children with disabilities, and implementing targeted interventions to reach children in remote or marginalized areas.

Monitoring and Accountability

Monitoring the implementation of the right to free education is crucial to ensure accountability and progress. Governments should establish robust monitoring mechanisms to track enrollment rates, educational outcomes, and the quality of education. This should include collecting disaggregated data to identify and address disparities among different groups of children.

Moreover, civil society organizations, activists, and community members should be actively involved in monitoring and holding governments accountable for their commitments. Transparency, open dialogue, and regular reporting on progress are essential to ensure that the right to education is effectively realized.

International Support

The international community plays a crucial role in supporting countries’ efforts to strengthen the right to free education. International organizations, donor countries, and philanthropic foundations should prioritize education financing and provide resources to countries that require external support. This includes both financial assistance and technical expertise to help countries build inclusive and sustainable education systems.

Furthermore, countries should actively engage in knowledge sharing and collaboration with other countries to exchange experiences, learn from successful models, and jointly address common challenges. This collective effort is essential to drive progress towards achieving the global goal of education for all.

In conclusion, the pledge of over 70 countries to strengthen the right to free education is a positive step towards ensuring access to quality education for all children. By prioritizing free pre-primary and secondary education, countries can address educational inequalities, promote social inclusion, and invest in the future of their societies. The international community must support and hold governments accountable to ensure that this commitment is translated into meaningful actions and tangible results.

Education–education,globaleducation,righttolearn,educationforall,internationalcollaboration,globalpartnership,educationpolicy,accesstoeducation,inclusiveeducation,educationequality