Education Rights

Education is the most basic right of all regardless of the individual’s age, gender, ethnicity or even religion. With the growing birth rates in Bangladesh it is quite surprising as to how the most of the children of the country are not even receiving adequate educational facilities, perhaps due to areas having no schools or even adequate premises to be called one. Many do not even possess proper uniforms or even textbooks to attend schools, even those that do have to face the hurdle of even attending schools in other districts due to none existing near their homes. Moreover, even from an early age these children end up working to earn their living with no time or the opportunity to attend schools. The right to education ensures access to quality schools and to an education that is directed towards the full development of the human personality. Every individual child must have equal access to a quality education adapted to meet his or her needs. JWF makes it a priority to allow these children an opportunity to have a proper school life through its various efforts such as through financing or even building school premises in areas without them. Furthermore, JWF aims to enable the adults who have had no such opportunity to get a formal education and make the citizens of Bangladesh at least reach its pinnacle in development.

Education is both the means as well as the end to a better life: the means because it empowers an individual to earn his/her livelihood and the end because it increases one's awareness on a range of issues – from healthcare to appropriate social behavior to understanding one's rights – and in the process help him/her evolve as a better citizen. Right to education is not only a human right but also a fundamental right ensured by every laws of a country. Article 17 of the national constitution of Bangladesh mentions free and compulsory education; it articulates that the “State shall adopt effective measures for the purpose of (a) establishing an uniform, mass-oriented and universal system of education and extending free and compulsory education to all children to such stage as may be determined by law and (b) relating education to the needs of society and producing properly trained and motivated citizens to serve those needs; removing illiteracy within such time as may be determined by law”. It basically resonates with article 26 (1), of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which states that “everyone has a right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit”. A nation’s position and fundamental philosophy around education is basically reflected in its education policy. But this cannot be said to be an effective form of enforcement specifically for the children. Indian government passed the “Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act” in 2009 which came into effect on 1 April 2010. The Article 21-A declares that the provision of free and compulsory education of all children in the age group from six to fourteen years as a fundamental right. With this step, India joined a group of few countries in the world, where the historic law declaring education as a fundamental right of every child has come into force. Hence JWF wishes to raise awareness and take on projects which would in turn have the same effect as the enactment of provision similar to that of India’s Compulsory Education Act.