Education as a human right

If you ask me, what is the way to generate change in the world? Without a doubt, the answer is education. Knowledge is power and it is even more courageous when it is put at the service of others. Hence, the role of teachers in teaching is fundamental, it goes through the stages from preschool to university. For this and many more reasons, we will address education as a human right.

It is vitally important that governments pay special attention to the education of their inhabitants. If possible, it will be decreed compulsory at least until high school.  Since the development of a country will depend mostly on the academic and professional training of the population.

Education is a common recognized right

Education is a recognized human right, defined as the right to a free compulsory primary education for every inhabitant. Likewise, secondary school must be accessible to all children. Subsequently, equitable access to higher education is not fulfilled in many countries since university education is mostly private.

On the other hand, the state is obliged to guarantee an education that is accessible to all and of quality. Therefore, obstacles must be eliminated as much as possible.

The first Special Rapporteur of the United Nations defines the right to education, from its four dimensions.

The 4-A (Available, Accessible, Acceptable, Adaptable) framework of the right to education provides a conceptual framework for establishing the obligations of governments on the right to education: making education available, accessible, acceptable, and adaptable is also contained in General Comment No. 3 of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Education as a human right from UNESCO’s perspective

Education is an essential human right. This is also the main mission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It has also been immersed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights since 1948

The right to education is one of the overarching principles of the Global Education 2030 Agenda.  As well as Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), sponsored by the international community. It is based on human rights, the purpose of which is to certify the full enjoyment of the right to education as a driver for achieving sustainable development.

However, millions of children and adults still lack educational opportunities. Although this is complex because it is multifactorial, therefore social, cultural and economic aspects intervene.

The ideal for this premise to be fully fulfilled is that there must be equal opportunities and be accessible in its entirety. The participating States and the international community determine this legal framework to be of great importance in order to crystallize education as a human right.

UNESCO provides relevant advice to States for the construction of concrete national legal and institutional frameworks. This in order to promote the bases and the argument to achieve an education of reasonable quality.

On the other hand, it is the responsibility of governments to comply with obligations. In this sense, political and legal issues are involved, referring to the provision of quality education for all. Also, the stronger application and scope of policies and strategies in education systems.

Basic indicators of education as a human right

Education as a human right has basic indicators by which it can be measured in a certain way. Among them we can mention the following:

Availability: the must be that there are enough schools that address the demand of the total population. For this primary reason, States must ensure that there is an adequate number of educational facilities for all people. But this is not all, as they must be supplied with all the materials that work properly.

On the other hand, it must have fundamental aspects such as buildings, didactic equipment, competent and very well paid personnel. In addition to protection from natural elements, sanitary facilities for both sexes and one of the essentials such as drinking water.

Acceptability: Programs of study must be designed according to the culture of the country and must have high standards of excellence. It must also be accepted by those who are going to receive the education as such, in this case it involves students and parents.

Adaptability: These must be very flexible because they must adapt to possible changes that arise at a given time in the population.

Accessibility: This indicator is one of the most important, it does not accept discrimination of any kind. Therefore, access to education cannot be prevented for reasons such as skin color, religion or cultural reasons. However, this is our daily bread in many countries.

 

Education goes beyond being a human right

Education goes far beyond being a human right, as it is fundamental to achieve the evolution of men and society as such. Every education is seen as a powerful weapon to change the world.

Unfortunately, there are countries where extreme poverty is the order of the day and the inhabitants are excluded from the education system. These are marginal areas that have a deficiency in basic services or may even be non-existent. In addition, the lack of qualified personnel and educational facilities with their respective equipment. That is the role of education in these spaces since it can make a difference. In this way, we can change the landscape of the near future.

Among the obstacles that to some extent prevent people from enjoying education as a human right are the following:

• High costs prevent parents from covering the costs of having their children attend school.
• Likewise, the low quality of education, child labor, gender exclusion that hinders women’s education.
• Discrimination based on disability or lack of attention to the learning needs of adults.

Governments must ensure the Right to Education for all. For this reason, quality and free education must be promoted. In addition, it must be able to supply people with the contents. As well as the experiences necessary to lead a dignified life.

 

Education: A powerful tool to change the world.

Education is a powerful weapon to change the world. It just takes a little more effort on the part of the government. As well as the support of private companies to finance educational projects. These should be aimed at promoting education as a fundamental human right.

Knowledge is power.  If most of the population is educated, they will see life from another perspective. An example of this is that women with higher levels of education tend to postpone motherhood and even the number of children is lower than a woman who has not had access to education.

To conclude, we would have a fairer and more balanced world if we really assert education as a human right that was promulgated by UNESCO.