Education
A human rights approach to Education for All: a framework for the realization of children’s right to education and rights within education
A comprehensive analysis of actions necessary to undertake a rights-based approach to achieving EFA
Authors:
G. Lansdown; M. Clark (ed); D. Craissati (ed); UNESCO
Publisher:
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization , 2007
This document is a comprehensive analysis of actions necessary to undertake a rights-based approach to achieving EFA. It offers a comprehensive framework of strategies and actions necessary to translate human rights into legislation, policies and programmes for the achievement of EFA. It presents key issues and challenges in rights-based approaches and provides a framework for policy and programme development from the level of the school up to the national and international levels.
The document refers to the Dakar Framework for Action and identifies the following specific goals for EFA:
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expand early childhood care and education
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provide free and compulsory primary EFA
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promote learning and life skills for young people and adults
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increase adult literacy by 50 per cent, especially for women
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achieve gender parity by 2005 and gender equality by 2015
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improve the quality of education.
The document focuses primarily on the educational rights of children although education has no age limit. It provides the following framework for implementing the conceptual framework:
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every child has a right of access to education without discrimination on any grounds. To achieve this goal, education must be available for, accessible to and inclusive of all children
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every child has a right to quality education to enable them fulfill their potential and realise opportunities for employment and develop life skills. To achieve this goal, education needs to be child-centered, relevant and embrace a broad curriculum, and be appropriately resourced and monitored
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every child has the right to respect within the learning environment and to have their universal human rights respected within the education system. To achieve this goal, education must be provided in a way that is consistent with human rights, including equal respect for every child, opportunities for meaningful participation,freedom from all forms of violence, and respect for language, culture and religion.
To facilitate the achievement of the above goals, the publication outlines state obligations and identifies the importance of a supportive political and economic environment, a robust legislative framework and rights-based education policies if governments are to realise the EFA goals. It also focuses on the rights and responsibilities of parents and other caregivers, communities, teachers, civil society organisations and the international community and how they can contribute to the realisation of the right to education.
