One month since its launch, the "Reclaiming Public Education For All" Statement has garnered widespread support from a multitude of organisations and individuals worldwide, marking a significant milestone in the defense of public education.

Launched on 24 February 2024, during the International Day of Education, the "Reclaiming Public Education For All" statement saw a wide collective of civil society organisations and leaders from around the world unite forces in a joint action to safeguard the integrity and vitality of public education systems.  

This impactful statement, crafted under the auspices of the Privatisation in Education and Human Rights Consortium (PEHRC), with the participation of GI-ESCR, champions the pivotal role of public education in addressing contemporary challenges. 

Watch the video here.

Aligned with our advocacy efforts, the Statement presents public education as an indispensable force for social cohesion, equity, and environmental sustainability. It also highlights troubling concerns, such as the alarming proliferation of private actors within education systems worldwide, exacerbating disparities and perpetuating underfunding of public education. Highlighting an annual financing gap of $100 billion, the Statement underscores the urgent need for robust investment in public education, reaffirming it as a fundamental human right enshrined in international law. 

Emphasising that public education enjoys broad public support and delivers tangible benefits, the Statements and thus, the signatories, assert the imperative for collective action to hold States accountable in fulfilling their obligations. Five key areas requiring immediate action, ranging from equitable funding to the protection of public education as a fundamental human right for all, are presented.  

Want to learn more? Read the full statement in English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Portuguese.  

Join forces with us now to protect public education! Sign the Statement.