The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child affirms that every child has a right to education. The purpose of education is to enable the child to develop to his or her fullest possible potential and to learn respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The general principles of the Convention which are relevant to education cover non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, the child’s right to life, survival and development, and the child’s right to express opinions. These principles can serve as a useful instrument in discussions on how to reform schools. This paper analyses, in the light of the Convention, eight areas for progressive reform: universal access, equal opportunities, the appropriate content of education, cultural roots and global values, new methods of learning, mutual respect, pupil participation, and the role of teachers, parents and the community. It also examines the problems both of implementing and of paying for such reform. The analysis throughout draws upon the practical experience of States Parties in implementing the Convention in their schools. The author concludes that the Convention constitutes a useful agenda for creatng a school which is child friendly and which provides the most effective learning. He believes that such a school is an essential building block for a better society.
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Paper provided by UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre in its series Innocenti Lectures with number
innlec98/1.
Find related papers by JEL classification: I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education K33 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - International Law