Compulsory primary education, detailed plan for

Type of entry: Right

The State party is required to adopt a plan of action within two years. This must be interpreted as meaning within two years of the Covenant's entry into force of the State concerned, or within two years of a subsequent change in circumstances which has led to the non-observance of the relevant obligation. This obligation is a continuing one and States parties to which the provision is relevant by virtue of the prevailing situation are not absolved from the obligation as a result of their past failure to act within the two-year limit. ICESCR/GC11(8)

Broader Terms:

Narrower Terms:

Related Terms:

Other Related Terms (keywords):

  • Education legislation

Relevant ICESCR Articles:

13(2)(a): Primary education shall be compulsory and available free to all;

14: Each State Party to the present Covenant which, at the time of becoming a Party, has not been able to secure in its metropolitan territory or other territories under its jurisdiction compulsory primary education, free of charge , undertakes, within two years, to work out and adopt a detailed plan of action for the progressive implementation, within a reasonable number of years, to be fixed in the plan, of the principle of compulsory education free of charge for all.

Related Documents:

Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; "Protocol of San Salvador"

Convention on the Rights of the Child

General Comment No. 11: Plans of Action for Primary Education

Universal Declaration of Human Rights


© 2002 American Association for the Advancement of Science