Education... Have we taken it for granted? It seems so, as in most countries it is natural for children to attend preschool and go on to elementary school, middle school, high school, and then college. We normally do not consider it a privilege to receive continuing education. However, recent news concerning the violation of education rights for girls in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Africa tell us it is not the case in some parts of the world.
Despite the Millenium Development Goal promise to secure universal education for girls by the end of 2015, progress has been postponed due to lack of funding. What's more, people fighting for universal girls' education have been discouraged, often violently. Supporters have been threatened, assaulted, bombed, and murdered during this struggle - principals were murdered, and schools that had announced their will to enroll girls were blown up with grenades.
As an effort to resolve this critical issue, the United Nations and the World Bank have stepped up, discussing with these countries what they need to promote girls' education.
(Original Article: "Girls Who Risk Their Lives For Education,"
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/09/opinion/global/girls-who-risk-their-lives-for-education.html?_r=0)
Related Legal Information: Right to Education
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 26
1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
(Reference: United Nations, http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/)
International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, Article 13
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to education. They agree that education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity, and shall strengthen the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. They further agree that education shall enable all persons to participate effectively in a free society, promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations and all racial, ethnic or religious groups, and further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
2. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that, with a view to achieving the full realization of this right:
(a) Primary education shall be compulsory and available free to all;
(b) Secondary education in its different forms, including technical and vocational secondary education, shall be made generally available and accessible to all by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education;
(c) Higher education shall be made equally accessible to all, on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education;
(d) Fundamental education shall be encouraged or intensified as far as possible for those persons who have not received or completed the whole period of their primary education;
(e) The development of a system of schools at all levels shall be actively pursued, an adequate fellowship system shall be established, and the material conditions of teaching staff shall be continuously improved.
(Reference: United Nations Human Rights, http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CESCR.aspx)
*Compulsory Education: pre-school, nursery education
*Secondary Education: middle school, high school, preparatory school, vocational school
*Higher Education: college, university, institute of technology, academy
(Reference: Wikipedia)
However, with ongoing discrimination in the field of education, international organizations have made continuous efforts to advocate universal education for all. Some of the more prominent movements are:
Convention Against Discrimination in Education
A multilateral treaty adopted by UNESCO in 1960, this convention had its goal in resisting all types of discrimination such as segregation, lack of funding, and unfair policies in administration.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
An international treaty adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly, this convention is also known as an international bill of rights for women, focusing on gender equality.
Katarina Tomasevski, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, developed the 4 As framework in her term. This is not necessarily the standard followed in all nations, but it is a general idea given on the fulfillment of education.
1) Availability – that education is free and government-funded and that there is adequate infrastructure and trained teachers able to support education delivery.
2) Accessibility – that the system is non- discriminatory and accessible to all, and that positive steps are taken to include the most marginalized.
3) Acceptability – that the content of education is relevant, non-discriminatory and culturally appropriate, and of quality; that the school itself is safe and teachers are professional.
4) Adaptability – that education can evolve with the changing needs of society and contribute to challenging inequalities, such as gender discrimination, and that it can be adapted locally to suit specific contexts.
(Reference: "Right to Education Project," http://www.right-to-education.org/)
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