The effects of privatisation on girls’ access to free, quality public education

The right to free, quality education is established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and reaffirmed with the Sustainable Development Goals. Governments have a duty to ensure the right to free, public education of good quality for all. However, in many countries, the low quality of public education is driving parents to pay for private education for their children. This growing trend towards privatisation aggravates existing inequalities and further marginalises vulnerable groups within the education system, as these groups are less able to pay for education.

This study analyses the effects of privatisation on girls' access to free, quality public education in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Nepal and Liberia.