Right to Education

Challenges in the

Asia-Pacific Region

Rene Raya

ASPBAE

World Human Rights ForumMarrakech, Morocco

27-30 November 2014

The Asia-Pacific Region

Most populous region in the world

Fastest growing economic region

Yet, the Region faces serious

challenges in Education

Asia-Pacific hosts the biggest

number of adult illiterates

64% of global total

Over half in South Asia

Key Education Challenges

17.8 million out of school children

in the Region

31% of global total

Over 100 million youth, 15-24 years

old have not completed primary

education

Asia-Pacific 60% of Global Total)

Key Education Challenges

Global Total

200 million

Gender Disparity remains large

2/3 of Adult Illiterates are women

More girls out of school than boys

Asia Pacific

Asia-Pacific as the Least Spenders

in Education …

UNESCO Global Monitoring

Report (2012)

Public Expenditure

on Education as

Percent (%) of

GNP

UNESCO Global Monitoring

Report (2013)

Nepal

OECD

Most Countries in Asia-Pacific have

constitutional and legal provisions on

Free and Compulsory Education.

Most are signatories to ESCR, CRC,

CEDAW, and EFA

Adherence to the Right to Education

YES in formalities , BUT

hardly so in actual practice!

Growth in Private School Enrolments

Promoted & marketed aggressively

Using branding, endorsement, social media

False claims on affordability and world class status

In Recent year…

Stronger Push towards Privatisation

Create added barrier for the poor to pursue schooling

Expansion of Private Tutoring; persisting User

Fees in most Asian countries

The Emerging Corporate Chain Schools

The rise of Low Fee Private Schools

Particularly in India and other South Asian countries

Growth in Private School Enrolments…

Pakistan

34.1%

India

~ 30%

Nepal

20%

Philippines

20%(Secondary)

Indonesia

41% Secondary)

In Nepal

Closure and merger of public schools resulted to

children dropping out of school

In Cambodia

Private Tutoring has become so widespread that

affects learning of poor students who cannot afford

In India, other South Asian countries

Girls less likely to be enrolled in Private Schools,

thus, further widening gender disparity gap

Rights Issues linked to Privatisation

In Private Schools around Asia

Teachers are paid extremely low salaries, without

Benefits and No Security. Salaries go as low as:

1/8 of Government Teachers (India)

1/3 for Pakistan

1/2 for Philippines

Rights Issues linked to Privatisation

These are some cases of Infringement of the

Right to Education that impact most especially

on Children, Women and on Teachers.

Implications of Privatisation on

the Right to Education

• Children & youth denied access to quality education• Leads to segregation based on Ability, Socio-

Economic Status and Ethnicity Exacerbates inequality

• Widens gender disparity, putting girls at a disadvantage

• Weakens/undermines the public education system,

Thank You!