Making the right to education meaningful: The 4 As

The framework of the 4 As has been developed to help people think through different dimensions of the right to education. By using a participatory process this framework can become a tool to enable people to think through what the right to education means to them, and compare their current reality to this ideal context.

The 4 As can be summarised as follows:

Availability – that education is free and government-funded and that there is adequate infrastructure and trained teachers able to support education delivery.

Accessibility – that the system is non-discriminatory and accessible to all, and that positive steps are taken to include the most marginalised.

Acceptability – that the content of education is relevant, non-discriminatory and culturally appropriate, and of quality; that the school itself is safe and teachers are professional.

Adaptability – that education can evolve with the changing needs of society and contribute to challenging inequalities, such as gender discrimination, and that it can be adapted locally to suit specific contexts.