(c) The development of respect for the child’s parents, his or her own cultural identity,
language and values, for the national values of the country in which the child is
living, the country from which he or she may originate, and for civilisations different
from his or her own;
(d) The preparation of the child for responsible life in a free society, in the spirit of
understanding, peace, tolerance, equality of sexes, and friendship among all peoples,
ethnic, national and religious groups and persons of indigenous origin; and
(e) The development of respect for the natural environment.
Regional human rights instruments
The right to education is also affirmed in regional human rights instruments.13 The AsiaPacific Regional Framework affirms that “[e]ducation is a fundamental human right of all
people – of value in and of itself, for improving the quality of life, and as an essential part of
social and human development.”14
Other human rights bodies
The aims of education have been further reaffirmed and elaborated on by government and
other human rights organisations at the international and regional level. In 1990 the World
Conference on Education for All adopted the World Declaration on Education for All.15 This
Declaration expresses the right to education using different language to the instruments
discussed above.
Article 1 provides that every person shall be able to benefit from
educational opportunities designed to meet their basic learning needs. These needs comprise
both essential learning tools and basic learning content.16 The article goes on to state that
another fundamental aim of educational development is the transmission and enrichment of
common cultural and moral values. Thus, basic education is more than an end in itself; it is
the foundation for lifelong learning and human development.
13
For example, the IACHR, which is an autonomous organ of the OAS, has affirmed the right to
education and has expressed the dual aims of education in similar terms to the UN human rights
conventions: see article 13(2) of the Protocol of San Salvador.
14
Preamble to the Asia and Pacific Regional Framework for Action: Education for All, Guiding
Principles, Specific Goals and Targets for 2015; Adopted by the Asia-Pacific Conference on EFA 2000
Assessment Bangkok, Thailand, 17-20 January 2000.
15
See http://www.unesco.org/education/efa/ed_for_all/index.shtml (last accessed 13 March 2007) for
an explanation on the Education for All movement.
16
Basic learning needs will be discussed in more detail under term of reference (iv).
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