Why Education is a Human Right?

“Education is the most powerful tool which you can use to change the world. -Nelson Mandela

Some speculate whether Education is a human right or a privilege.

What is a human right?

“A right which is believed to belong to every person” – Oxford Dictionary

What is a privilege?

“A special right, advantage, or?immunity?granted or available only to a particular person or group” – Oxford Dictionary

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, written in 1948 clearly states that Education is a basic human right. It calls for free elementary education for children all over the world along with other human rights such as justice, religious tolerance, freedom of speech and healthcare. It is not just at the elementary level; Article 26 of the declaration also states that:

‘Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

Here we are 75 years later, and the UN estimates that one in five children still do not attend school, 258 million globally for various reasons. In Sub-Saharan Africa, those reasons include conflict, political upheaval, migration, poverty, disability and discrimination among others. These circumstances are aggravated for the girl child and child refugees of whom there are approximately 4 million out of school in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. ???

When the Taliban banned women in Afghanistan from higher education last year only months after excluding girls from secondary school, there was a sweeping global outcry pointing to a violation of their human rights. The consequences on the cultural, social and economic development of the country will be irreversible. It has been proven that the provision of education to girls and women directly correlates to lower rates of teenage pregnancy and child marriage, poverty reduction and improved child and maternal health. Educating a woman uplifts families and communities allowing her to create a more profound impact on future generations.

Due to these statistics, The International Day of Education was launched in 2019 to highlight the role that education plays in the trajectory of the lives of people by lifting them out of extreme poverty. With the International Day of Education this year falling on January 24th, it is a good time to examine the importance of education to a stable, peaceful and progressive society and some of the reasons it is a basic human right.

·???????Education helps to break the poverty cycle

·???????Education facilitates social change

·???????Education empowers

·???????Education allows a person to advocate for their other human rights

·???????Education increases tolerance and promotes peace

·???????Education helps a society learn from past mistakes

·???????Education helps to level the playing field allowing

-developing nations to participate fully on a global stage

-Women and girls, people with disabilities and other minority groups access to better opportunities

·???????Education allows for more citizen participation and a better democracy

·???????Education provides hope for a better future

·???????Education improves critical thinking

?The Case in Rwanda

According to the latest UNICEF statistics, Rwanda is one of the leading countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of primary school enrollment at 98% although only 71% complete primary school. The focus now needs to be on inclusive education, ensuring that children with disabilities have the same access. At the moment, government schools are not penalized for turning away students with special needs.

In terms of adult literacy, Rwanda went from a 57.9% adult literacy rate in 1991, to 75.9% in 2021, a rate which is growing annually by 4.68%.

Rwanda has placed heavy emphasis on education as a tool in rebuilding the country by creating hope and a promising future. Working with its partners, including Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations, the Rwandan government has a strategy to gradually expand the economy of the country to one that is more knowledge and skills based rather than solely agriculture based.

The country first implemented an ‘Inclusive Quality Education for all policy’ and has committed to the Sustainable Development Goals. (SDGs) SDG 4 is the Education goal which aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” by 2030. SDG 4 includes pre-primary and tertiary, technical and vocational education.

It is equally important to note that education does not stop in the classroom. Promoting a culture of reading, exposure and continuous experiential learning are just some of the many ways to supplement formal education.

Written by Lamelle Shaw M.A.