Six Years Since the Adoption of the Abidjan Principles: A Key Framework on the Right to Education
Developed through a transparent, consultative process by 57 global experts, the principles compile and interpret existing human rights laws to guide education policy, particularly amid growing private sector involvement. They reaffirm the State’s duty to provide free, quality public education, regulate private actors, and ensure equitable funding. Recognised by global and regional human rights bodies, the principles remain a vital reference for policymakers and advocates working to uphold education as a fundamental right.
A Timely Imperative for Public Education
The Abidjan Principles are indispensable, reiterating States’ legal obligations to provide free, quality public education and safeguarding against the unchecked expansion of private actors. With privatisation pressures accelerating worldwide, the urgency of their implementation has never been greater.
From the expansion of school choice policies in the United States, diverting public funds towards private education options, to the push for education vouchers in Argentina, providing temporary financial support to families with children in private schools, public education systems are being undermined, jeopardising equitable access and the right to education. This trend is further aggravated by the global financial crisis, declining foreign aid and persistent challenges such as illicit financial flows, corruption and tax evasion—all of which weaken public resources essential for quality public education.
The Abidjan Principles provide a clear and actionable framework for governments to:
- Ensure adequate funding for public education.
- Prioritise free, quality public education as a fundamental right.
- Establish strong regulations and oversight of private actors to prevent commercialisation and inequities in education.
As education systems face unprecedented threats, the Abidjan Principles offer a necessary path forward. States must commit to their implementation to protect the future of public education for all.
Join us for the 6th Anniversary of the Abidjan Principles!
Experts will explore the legal foundations of the right to education and its ongoing role in ensuring free, quality and inclusive public education. The event will also highlight recent legal commentaries from the Oxford Human Rights Hub.