81 States Meet at UN to Discuss Free Education Treaty

Eighty-one states met at the United Nations in Geneva from August 31 to September 2 to discuss a proposed treaty that could strengthen children's right to education. The initiative, led by Sierra Leone, the Dominican Republic, and Bulgaria, aims to remove financial barriers that keep children out of school.

During the three-day meeting, Guatemala became the 62nd country to publicly support the initiative. However, states differed on how to proceed. A group of nations supported moving directly to drafting the treaty, while others called for more deliberation.

Treaty Supporters and Cautious States

The source, Human Rights Watch, reports that several states supported moving forward to draft the treaty immediately. Others called for more time to consider different options before proceeding.

Proposed Treaty Provisions

The proposed optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child would recognize early childhood care and education as part of the right to education. It would guarantee at least one year of free public pre-primary education and strengthen the promise of free public secondary education.

Free pre-primary education gives children a stronger start and offers children from disadvantaged families a fairer chance to succeed. Free secondary education can change a child's life by reducing the likelihood of child marriage and opening doors to further education and decent work. For children with disabilities, removing financial and practical barriers can enable full participation and learning alongside peers.

Children's Direct Recommendations

Children played a central role at the meeting. Child delegates from all five global regions shared recommendations based on consultations with more than 80 children worldwide. They argued that tuition-free education is not genuinely free if families still must pay for transport, uniforms, school materials, and other essential costs.

Next Steps for the Process

Further consultations will take place before the next formal meeting in October 2027. The chair from Sierra Leone called for continued review of the treaty proposals and expert advice. The chair also stressed that children should continue to have a meaningful, safe, and inclusive role in the next stages.

The momentum now needs to become action. Governments should move this process forward so that millions of children are not left waiting for the education to which they are entitled.