Human Rights and Education: A Comparative Analysis on India and Guinea
Human Rights and Education: A Comparative Analysis on India and Guinea
Definition of Human Rights: Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, caste, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.
Education has been formally recognized as a human right since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. This has since been reaffirmed in numerous global human rights treaties, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); the Convention against Discrimination in Education (1960); The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966); The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1981).
Article 26 (1) of the UDHR stipulates that: Everyone has the 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.
Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
Education in Guinea is a Constitutional right. Part II of Guinean Constitution deals with Fundamental Rights. (Constitution of May 7, 2010) Art. 23 sections 4 and 5 recognizes education as a human right.
Likewise, India also recognizes education as a human right. Therefore, Part III of Constitution of India deals with Fundamental Rights. Art. 21 (A) stipulates that " the State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine".
Both Countries have some drawbacks in common but challenges are slightly different.
Dropout is common to both India and Guinea for one reason or another. In the case of Guinea dropout is due to lack of opportunity, lack of facilities and even chances. That’s why many children at a very young age are tempted to illegal migration dropping out from school. While in India dropout can be justified by the social barriers like the charturvarna system along with the Reservation Clause.
Challenges ahead will require us to adapt and upgrade our curricula to the need of the job market.
This will take place only through international cooperation.
