Basic education as a human right redux

Willmore, Larry (2008): Basic education as a human right redux.

Abstract

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights promises free elementary education and free choice of schools to children and their parents. International fora emphasise the first right while neglecting the second. This essay examines arguments for limiting school choice and finds each of them to be unconvincing. It then describes three school systems: India, with free choice, but only for those who can afford to pay; Sweden, with taxpayer-funded free choice for everyone; and Finland, which allows parents almost no choice at all in basic education.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: education; human rights; public goods; vouchers; India; Sweden; Finland
• Subjects: I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I2 - Education and Research Institutions > I28 - Government Policy; H - Public Economics > H5 - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies > H52 - Government Expenditures and Education

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