Educational Freedom

Educational freedom is the liberty of parents to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions which includes the liberty to choose for their children schools other than public schools. The State also has the obligation to respect this liberty within public education.

Educational freedom also includes the liberty of everyone to establish and direct educational institutions which conform to minimum educational standards established by the State. As interpreted by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in its General Comment 13, the State has an obligation to ensure that this liberty does not lead to extreme disparities of educational opportunity for some groups in society.

Educational freedom is guaranteed both in international and regional human rights treaties. See International Instruments - Educational Freedom.

Academic Freedom

'The right to education can only be enjoyed if accompanied by the academic freedom of staff and students', states the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in its General Comment 13.

Academic freedom is the liberty of members of the academic community, individually or collectively, to pursue, develop and transmit knowledge and ideas, through research, teaching, study, discussion, documentation, production, creation and / or writing.

Academic freedom requires autonomy of higher education institutions.

Educational freedom is guaranteed both in international and regional human rights treaties. See International Instruments - Academic Freedom