(ix) the nature and scope of the obligation to provide quality education and to establish minimum education standards and an effective and transparent system to monitor such standards. Summary • Curricula and teaching methods must be of good quality and learner-centred. • Quality education requires an environment and curricula that are sensitive to human rights. • Public perception of teachers and teaching must be enhanced and incentives to identify, attract and retain good teachers must be provided. The State must endeavour to provide suitably qualified teachers for all students at all levels. • Governments must regulate education by setting and enforcing minimum standards to which all educational institutions must conform. • States are obliged to establish and maintain a transparent and effective system to monitor whether or not educational objectives are being met. • NHRIs should develop a National Plan of Action on the Right to Education which would be complementary to the National EFA Plan. Discussion Introduction The Special Rappoteur has commented on the State’s obligation to provide quality education and to establish and monitor minimum education standards:398 [The] Government[’s] obligation to define and ensure the quality of education requires an assessment of the existing conditions against the postulated goals of education, a definition of standards that should be in place everywhere, and an identification of institutions and procedures whereby these standards will be implemented, monitored and enforced. Quality education Quality education at all levels is critical to economic and social development and is therefore a national imperative. The “acceptability” feature of the right to education requires curricula 126