Right to Education

At the 10th Annual Meeting (2005), the Forum Council agreed to develop a reference for the Advisory Council of Jurists (ACJ) on the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights. The final reference focused specifically on the right to education.

The Background Paper for the reference included responses to a Questionnaire provided by APF members, which presented information about specific issues of concern in each country.

The ACJ presented its Interim Report to the 11th Annual Meeting (2006), and argued that education should meet four key criteria: availability, accessibility, acceptability and adaptability.

The report said that States have immediate and progressive obligations in realising the right to education and that they must set and achieve specific and appropriate targets. One immediate obligation is to ensure that education is inclusive and non-discriminatory.

The ACJ also recommended that, in accordance with international standards, primary education should be compulsory and available free to all; secondary and vocational training should be generally available and accessible to all; and higher education should be equally accessible to all.