Students, Bridge International Academy, Kenya

Students, Bridge International Academy – Nairobi
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12 Octubre 2015

ActionAid UKActionAid International and the Right to Education Project are hosting an event to mark the launch of a report on how the British government could be violating the right to education with its support of for-profit private schools across Africa and south Asia. The report is titled: The UK’s support of the growth of private education through its development aid: questioning its responsibilities as regards it human rights extraterritorial obligations.

This event will take place on Thursday, 15 October 2015 from 10.00-11.30 BST in the ActionAid Offices, 33-39 Bowling Green Lane, EC1R 0BJ

The UK is one of the most important education donors worldwide; however, there are serious concerns about the UK’s increasing support of private education, particularly for-profit, ‘low-fee’ private schools, such as those operated by Bridge International Academies. While there can be a role for private actors in education, the growth of such schools has proven to be a major human rights challenge in a number of developing countries. Evidence shows that low-fee private schools create and entrench segregation and inequalities, particularly for the most marginalised children, fail to deliver quality education, lower teachers’ labour standards, and promote a narrow understanding of education. The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to educationUN human rights expert bodies and the Human Rights Council have repeatedly raised concerns on these issues.

UK organisations, together with civil society organisations from countries affected by the UK’s development aid policies and supported by other organisations across the world, have jointly submitted the report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. These Committees are currently reviewing the UK’s compliance with international human rights treaties.

At the official launch of the report, the authors, lead organisations, and international advocates for education will discuss the issues raised in the report.

Confirmed speakers include:

  • Delphine Dorsi (Executive Director, Right to Education Project)
  • Nick Dearden (Director, Global Justice Now)
  • Christine Blower (General Secretary, National Union of Teachers)
  • Salima Namusobya (Director, Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Uganda)
  • Sylvia Mbataru (Policy & Legislative Advocacy, The CRADLE in Kenya)

The event will be chaired by Hugh McLean (Director, Education Support Program, Open Society Foundations).

For more information and to RSVP, please email info@right-to-education.org. We encourage you to share this invitation with your networks.

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The report has been submitted on behalf of the following organisations: Right to Education Project, ActionAid UK, Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ALT), Global Justice Now, National Union of Teachers (NUT), University and College Union (UCU), ActionAid International, Child Rights International Network (CRIN), East African Centre for Human Rights (EACHRights), Eastern Africa Collaboration on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (EACOR), Economic and Social Rights Centre-Hakijamii, Education International, Global Campaign for Education, Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition, Initiative for Social and Economic Rights in Uganda, International Commission of Jurists – Kenyan Section (ICJ-Kenya), Kenya National Union of Teachers, Kenya Youth Foundation, Privatisation in Education Research Initiative (PERI), Mathare Association, Soweto Forum, and Uganda National Teachers’ Union