Education

Presentation & best practices from the CFCI network

Article 28 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child : States Parties recognize the right of the child to education, and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the basis of equal opportunity, they shall, in particular: (a) Make primary education compulsory and available free to all; (b) Encourage the development of different forms of secondary education, including general and vocational education, make them available and accessible to every child, and take appropriate measures such as the introduction of free education and offering financial assistance in case of need; (c) Make higher education accessible to all on the basis of capacity by every appropriate means; (d) Make educational and vocational information and guidance available and accessible to all children; (e) Take measures to encourage regular attendance at schools and the reduction of drop-out rates.

A child’s right to education entails the right to learn. Yet, around the world, children are deprived of education and learning for various reasons. Even in schools, a lack of trained teachers, inadequate education materials and poor infrastructure make learning difficult for many students.

Compounding these inequities is a digital divide of growing concern: some two thirds of the world’s school-aged children do not have internet connection in their homes, restricting their opportunities to further their learning and skills development.

Without quality education, children face considerable barriers to employment and earning potential later in life. They are more likely to suffer adverse health outcomes and less likely to participate in decisions that affect them – threatening their ability to shape a better future for themselves and their societies.

[Please note that inclusion here does not necessarily imply endorsement by UNICEF]