Presentation of the work on privatisation in education of the Global Initiative fro Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Right to Education Project and partners at Education International 7th Congress July 2015 Ottawa

1. Tackling privatisation in
education using international
human rights tools and
mechanisms
EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL 7TH CONGRESS
20TH JULY 2015, OTTAWA

2. A growing movement

3. Country
E
Involvement of private actors as providers of education acceptable
Involvement of private actors as providers of education not
acceptable
Countr
y B
Country
D
Country
C
Education system in
country A
Public
sectorPrivate
sector
Regulations
Other

4. Three streams of work
1. Country research and advocacy
2. Global rights advocacy
3. Normative framework on privatisation and human
rights

5. 1. Country research: 9 countries
Morocco
Ghana
Kenya
Uganda
Brazil
Chile
Nepal
Pakistan
United Kingdom

6. 1. Research and data
collection on private
education - report
2. Advocacy UN human
rights bodies in Geneva
3. Use of UN
recommendations for
national
advocacy/mobilisation

9. 1. Research and data
collection on private
education - report
2. Advocacy UN human
rights bodies in Geneva
3. Use of UN
recommendations for
national
advocacy/mobilisation

11. 1. Research and data
collection on private
education - report
2. Advocacy UN human
rights bodies in Geneva
3. Use of UN
recommendations for
national
advocacy/mobilisation

12. CRC Concluding Observations

13. GHANA
• The Committee is concerned about “the trend towards
privatisation of education”
• The Committee recommends to “Assess and address
the consequences of the rapid development of
private education in the State party and its impact
on the full realization of children’s right to
education in accordance with the Convention and
ensure the effective and efficient regulation and
monitoring of private education providers, through
the Private School Desk within the Ghana Education
Service”
UGANDA
“the Committee recommends that the State
party assumes primary responsibility for
the provision of quality education to all
children. To this end it should:
- Allocate sufficient resources to the
education sector with a view to improving
infrastructure of schools including sanitation,
working conditions of teachers, and teaching
materials;
- Strengthen regulations and
expand monitoring and oversight
mechanisms for private education
institutions
CHILE
• “Take all the necessary measures to ensure that the
reform of the education system eliminate all the
mechanisms that create discrimination and
segregation of the students on the basis of their social
and economic conditions”
http://bit.ly/privatisationproject

16. Three streams of work (2)
1. Country research and advocacy
2. Global rights advocacy
3. Normative framework on privatisation and human
rights

21. Urges all States to give full effect to the right to education by, inter alia, complying with their obligations
to respect, protect and fulfil the right to education by all appropriate means, including by taking measures,
such as:
(a)Putting in place a regulatory framework guided by international human rights obligations for
education providers that establishes, inter alia, minimum norms and standards for the creation and
operation of educational institutions;
(b)Expanding educational opportunities for all without discrimination, paying particular attention to girls,
marginalized children and persons with disabilities, by, inter alia, recognizing the significant
importance of public investment in education, to the maximum of available resources, and
strengthening the engagement with communities, local actors and civil society to contribute to
education as a public good;
(c)Ensuring that education is consistent with human rights standards and principles, including those
laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in international human rights treaties;
(d)Monitoring private education providers and holding accountable those whose practices have a
negative impact on the enjoyment of the right to education by, inter alia, engaging with existing
national human rights mechanisms, parliamentarians and civil society;
(e)Strengthening access to appropriate remedies and reparation for victims of violations of the right
to education;
(f) Supporting research and awareness-raising activities to better understand the wide-ranging
impact of the commercialization of education on the enjoyment of the right to education;

22. Three streams of work (3)
1. Country research and advocacy
2. Global rights advocacy
3. Normative framework on privatisation and human
rights

23. Country
E
Involvement of private actors as providers of education acceptable
Involvement of private actors as providers of education not
acceptable
Countr
y B
Country
D
Country
C
Education system in
country A
Public
sectorPrivate
sector
Regulations
Other
Free quality
education
Humanistic nature
of education
Inequality/segregati
on
Regulated private
schools
Adequate
process

24. What can you do?
 Monitor the situation and share news, information, pieces of laws and legislation…
 Conduct research, write a report, and engage in human rights reporting, with partners
 Raise awareness, engage with the media, share news and information
 Be active online, #EducationBeforeProfit
 Join the international advocacy movement!
Meeting in October in London

25. More
information
GI-ESCR http://bit.ly/privatisationproject
Blog http://www.right-to-education.org/blog/bringing-
issues-education-and-privatisation-unSylvain Aubry
Sylvain@globalintiativ
e-escr.org
Twitter: @saubryhr