The key requirement of the right to education - making primary education free, compulsory and all-encompassing - has not been translated into reality. Because there is no global monitoring system, we do not know how many children in how many countries have no access to primary education, nor indeed whether the situation is improving or deteriorating. The vast majority of countries whose children have no access to school are poor, many are heavily indebted, some are at war or warfare has recen...read more
The key requirement of the right to education - making primary education free, compulsory and all-encompassing - has not been translated into reality. Because there is no global monitoring system, we do not know how many children in how many countries have no access to primary education, nor indeed whether the situation is improving or deteriorating. The vast majority of countries whose children have no access to school are poor, many are heavily indebted, some are at war or warfare has recently ended. Thus, this list raises questions about international cooperation much as about individual governments. To find figures for a particular country, use the drop down list on the Right to Education website.