On Tuesday, 28th January, the APPG on Global Education hosted a roundtable discussion on the new Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The session offered Parliamentarians the opportunity to gain insights from child rights and education experts on the role the UK government has to play in strengthening the right to education under international law, to include access to free pre-primary education through secondary education.
Chaired by Baroness Blower, Vice Chair of the APPG on Global Education, the roundtable discussion featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Bede Sheppard, Deputy Director for Children’s Rights at Human Rights Watch; Emma Pearce, Senior Officer for Child Marriage and Education at Girls Not Brides; Lucia Fry, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at Malala Fund; Oliver Mawhinney, International Policy Specialist at the National Education Union; and Hannah Frisch, Senior Policy and Parliamentary Advocacy Officer for Education at Results UK.
In his speech, Bede Sheppard highlighted that the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantees every child the right to free primary education. However, it overlooks the critical areas of early childhood and pre-primary education, and it does not mandate that secondary education be free for all children. He affirmed that the optional protocol aims to address the gaps of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by making public pre-primary education, beginning with at least one year, and secondary education available and free to all.
He recognised that while progress has been made in primary school completion rates, data reveals that less than half of children of pre-primary age have access to preschool, only two in three children in sub-Saharan Africa complete primary school on time and 59% graduate from secondary school.
Emma Pearce reiterated that free secondary education can be a protective measure against harmful practices like child marriage. Globally, 1 in 5 girls marries before the age of 18, about 12 million girls every year. She highlighted that poverty is a key factor that prevents many girls from completing secondary education. In addressing this barrier and ensuring girls have access to free secondary education, there will be progress in putting an end to child marriage. This aligns with data from the World Bank which shows that for every additional year a girl stays in secondary education, the likelihood of her marrying as a child decreases by an average of six percentage points. The new optional protocol is an opportunity to secure the secondary education of all girls and empower them to live fulfilling lives.
In her presentation, Lucia Fry stressed that despite the global consensus on the importance of girls’ education, 122 million girls remain out of school, with 70% of them in secondary education. To address this, Malala Fund continues to advocate for legal provisions that guarantee free education up to upper secondary school, including through a petition signed by over half a million people in 2022. Supporting international legal frameworks like the optional protocol will bolster these efforts and, more importantly, provide a strong stand against the oppressive policies such as the ban on girls’ secondary education in Afghanistan. She affirmed that all children deserve access to a full education cycle regardless of gender or where they come from.
Oliver Mawhinney stated that the National Education Union, representing the majority of teachers and educational professionals in the UK, supports the call for a new Optional Protocol. This is evidenced by the high numbers of teachers amongst the more than 50,000 UK citizens who signed the letter from Malala and Vanessa Nakate urging world leaders to expand the right to free education.
He highlighted the findings from the Global Status of Teachers 2024 which reveal insufficient funding for secondary education as a significant gap in fulfilling the right to education. The report also states that while primary education is generally inclusive, only 66% of marginalized children have access to secondary education. He emphasised that teachers are essential to achieving universal education, with 44 million more teachers needed globally to meet primary and secondary education goals. Investment in teachers is crucial, as it accounts for at least 70% of education spending in most countries, and examples from countries like Ghana and Sierra Leone show that political will can mobilize resources for free education for all.
Hannah Frisch underscored the importance of access to Education at all levels. She affirmed that Education is a human right and is vital for creating a brighter, more resilient and prosperous future for everyone. She called on the UK government to retain its reputation as a leading champion for education, and a crucial influencer in protecting the rights to education of children across the world. Supporting the optional protocol will be an opportunity for the Labour Government to reaffirm its commitment to utilising education as a tool in breaking down barriers to opportunity.
In conclusion, expanding the rights to free education to cover pre-primary through secondary education is a key driver for individual, societal and economic transformation. Also, it is instrumental in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) – to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Free pre-primary education helps establish a strong educational foundation, supporting early cognitive development, social skills, and emotional well-being. This early investment is linked to better academic performance later on in life. Access to free secondary education helps ensure that all children, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to succeed academically. This reduces educational inequalities and ensures that children from marginalised communities are not left behind.
The speakers affirmed that there is an immense opportunity for the UK government to make a significant impact on the success of the optional protocol and leave a legacy on the right to education.
Thank you to the speakers for leading such an important conversation.