The human right to education: understanding children's education
The right to education worldwide
Education is a fundamental right that represents the hopes, dreams and aspirations of millions of children and families around the world. It is the most reliable means of enabling children to develop their full potential, escape poverty and build a better future for themselves. This right is enshrined in Articles 28 and 29 of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. On the basis of equal opportunity, primary education must be compulsory and free, and secondary education accessible to all, while respecting the dignity of the child.
Yet millions of school-age children around the world do not attend school.
Shared responsibility for better results
We all have a responsibility to ensure that every child has the right to go to school, without the slightest obstacle. All the more so for girls, for whom there are additional obstacles: unequal and discriminatory social norms, harmful practices, sexual violence, lack of appropriate hygiene and sanitation infrastructures. Crises and conflicts exacerbate these difficulties.Schooling is not always synonymous with learning
Worldwide, there are more non-learners in school than out of school.
Without the skills needed for lifelong learning, children find it harder to earn a decent income and get a job as adults. They are also less likely to participate in the decisions that affect them, threatening their ability to build a better future for themselves and their communities.