Hello.

My name's Ms. Ikomi and I'm a teacher in London.

I'm going to be taking you through today's lesson.

We've got lots to get through, so let's get started.

Today's lesson is called "What does the right to education really mean?" It is part of the wider unit "What rights should all children have?" By the end of today's lesson, you will be able to explain what the right to education means and why it is important.

The keywords we're going to hear about today are right.

This is something that we are entitled to by law.

Education.

This is the way that we learn about the world, gain new skills, and prepare for the future through school, books, or experiences.

And last, the UNCRC.

This stands for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

This is a legally-binding international agreement that sets out the rights of all children, regardless of their race, religion, or abilities.

Let's get started.

We're going to think first about what is a child's right to education? The child's rights to education is a right that is protected by law.

This law is outlined in the UNCRC, the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

This is an international agreement, formed in 1989, that exists to protect and support children and make sure that they live in a happy and safe environment.

Children have the same rights as adults, but also additional rights have been created, bearing in mind that they may have additional protections that are needed.

There are 54 articles in the UNCRC.

These outline the rights of every child, and this means that every child is entitled to those rights.

They're universal.

We can summarise the 54 principles into four general principles.

Non-discrimination, best interest of the child, right to life, survival, and development, and the right to be heard.

This means that all of these principles incorporate the 54 rights.

So we don't have to remember all of them exactly.

Let's check what we've done so far.

Which right is not part of the four principles of the UNCRC? Is it A, the right to be heard? B, the right to freedom? Or C, the right to development? Pause your video and choose your answer now.

The correct answer is B, right to freedom.

Although this is important, it is not one of the principles.

An important right that all children are entitled to by law is the right to education.

This is covered by Articles 28 and 29.

It states that all children should have an education and children should be disciplined in a manner that respects them as human beings.

It also lists the aims of education for governments around the world.

Lucas is asking Alex, "What does Article 28 and 29 say? Are they different?" Alex is telling us that they are different.

Article 28 says that we are entitled to the right to education, whereas Article 29 outlines the various aims of education.

This lets everyone know why children have the right to education.

So although these two articles are separate, they connect very well together.

Let's check what we've done so far.

There are two specific articles about a child's right to education in the UNCRC.

Pause your video and choose whether you think this is true or false.

The correct answer is true.

This is because we have Article 28 that says that children are entitled to the right to an education, and then Article 29 that goes into a bit more detail and outlines the aims of education.

Well done if you got that correct.

The UNCRC sets out three core elements to help children access their right to education across the world.

However, it's important for us to remember that the whole of the UNCRC is set up for children to have equality and access those rights.

Article 28 says that every child has the right to free primary education and then access to secondary education.

That ensures that it's available to all children without discrimination.

That means children are treated equally, no matter what their background, their race, their religion, or any other characteristic.

Lucas is telling us that "in the UK, we have access to both primary and secondary education for free.

However, in some countries, you have to pay to attend secondary school." Article 29 emphasises that education should develop a child's personality, talents, mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential.

It also promotes respect for human rights, cultural identity, and the environment.

Laura is telling us, "That's why we have a national curriculum in the UK that is tailored to the needs of pupils at school." This means that everyone in the UK should be learning about certain things that are set out by the government.

"We have Citizenship lessons to learn about respecting human rights and many other important issues." The UNCRC ensures that all children, no matter their race, gender, nationality, disability, or economic status, have access to education.

This principle is also shown in Article 2 that prevents discrimination of children's rights, including within education.

Sofia's telling us that we're all equal, so therefore, we should all get the same education and the same access to education.

As we know, the UNCRC is written so that no child can be discriminated against in education or in life.

So it's helping us to have this principle of equality.

Let's check what we've done so far.

What does the UNCRC protect children from, in relation to education? Is it A, others? B, equality? C, freedom? Or D, discrimination? Pause your video and choose your answer now.

The correct answer is D, discrimination.

Let's do another check.

I would like you to explain in a paragraph how the UNCRC protects a child's right to education.

I'd like you to try and include the following words in your answer.

International, universal, 54 articles, four principles, Article 28, Article 29, and Citizenship lessons.

Pause your video and have a go at this now.

I asked you to explain how the UNCRC protects a child's right to education.

Your answer might have included some of the following.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international treaty containing 54 articles that outline the universal rights of children and protects a child's right to education.

It is guided by four principles, non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, survival and development, and respect for the child's views.

Article 28 emphasises every child's right to access education without discrimination, ensuring it's free and compulsory at primary level.

Article 29 highlights the importance of education in developing the child's personality, talents, and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential, promoting understanding, tolerance and peace amongst all people.

This especially happens in Citizenship lessons in UK schools.

Well done if you included some of that in your answer.

Next, we're going to think about why education is important, and therefore why it has been written in as one of our key rights.

Education gives children the knowledge and skills that are needed for their future life and careers.

Lots of the things that you learn every day at school will be things that you need when you're an adult in the world of work.

Jun is telling us, "Education helps me learn about the world and understand how things work.

It also prepares me with practical skills for a future job and everyday life.

For example, I've learnt how to write a letter to my Member of Parliament in a Citizenship lesson.

This can help me in the future to be an active citizen." Can you have a think about some of the lessons that you've done that might prepare you for your next stages after school? Education also improves children's opportunities.

Izzy is telling us that if she concentrates and makes the best of education, it can open doors to better career choices and higher-paying jobs.

If we take all the educational opportunities given, it can help to gain the tools and skills needed to achieve my dreams. Let's see what we've done so far.

I'd like you to fill the missing words in in the following sentence.

Pause your video and do this now.

Let's see what the missing words are.

Education lets you learn new knowledge and skills.

It also improves your opportunities.

Well done if you got those right.

Alongside providing opportunities, education is so important in empowering children.

This means that it can make children stronger and more capable of claiming their rights.

Andeep is telling us that "education helps me think critically and make informed decisions.

It boosts my confidence to be able to express my ideas and stand up for myself." Education is not only teaching us important things like how to do maths or how to spell.

It's teaching us how to form our own opinions and advocate for ourselves.

That means speaking up for ourselves.

Education also promotes equality.

The UNCRC encourages equality in education and protects a child's right to education.

Jacob is telling us that "education gives everyone the same chance to succeed, regardless of their background, race, or gender.

It also creates a fairer society.

We learn about equality a lot in Citizenship lessons too." Let's check what we've done so far.

Education gives everyone the same chance to succeed, regardless of their background, race, or gender.

This is called what? Is it A, empower? B, equality? C, ethnicity? Or D, eternity? Pause your video and choose the answer now.

The correct answer is B, equality.

Well done if you got that right.

Education, ultimately, makes the world a better place.

It teaches us respect, teamwork, and how to solve problems peacefully.

It also inspires people to help others within the community.

Aisha is telling us that her class raised money to give to a homeless shelter for people less fortunate than ourselves.

Education can also improve a child's physical and mental health.

Sam is telling us that they love PE because they get to exercise and keep healthy.

Sofia says that they love Art and Music because they're able to express themselves.

Alex says that education is fun.

They enjoy learning new things with their friends.

Without this opportunity, children may not get all of those chances within their home life, for example.

Education is the foundation for personal growth.

It helps us to discover potential and pursue passion.

It also gives you the chance to be around other people and meet people that might have different passions to you.

That is going to help you to develop your understanding of the world around you.

It promotes social development by encouraging understanding, equality, and collaboration.

When we all work together, in circumstances like school, we are building stronger communities, both within and outside that space.

Okay, true or false? Education does not result in stronger communities.

Pause your video and choose your answer now.

Can you also have a think about why you've chosen that answer? The correct answer is false.

This is because education does result in stronger communities.

It gives us knowledge and skills to deal with different situations.

It also promotes social development by encouraging understanding, equality, and collaboration.

That means teamwork.

Well done if you got that correct.

Let's put this into practise.

I'd like you to write down five reasons why education is so important.

Andeep is telling us that you could use the outline of your hand to lay out your answer.

Put a different reason on each digit.

Pause your video and have a go at this now.

I asked you to write down five reasons why education is so important.

You might have included some of the following in your answer.

Education gives you knowledge and skills for a better future.

Education provides you with opportunities.

Education is good for your mental and physical health.

Education is enjoyable.

And education empowers you to know your rights.

Well done if you included some of that.

Last, we're going to think about whether children are ever denied the right to education.

The UNCRC guarantees children's rights by law in 196 countries.

These are all the countries that have signed the document.

However, even if countries have signed it, sometimes there are situations where children don't always receive their rights, even though they're entitled to them.

This might be because there is an emergency happening.

For example, a natural disaster, a war, or a pandemic.

For example, within the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

In some countries, a government might deny rights to some of its citizens.

So this might result in some children not getting their right to education being upheld.

There are lots of situations where children don't get their right to access education.

In October 2024, UNESCO found that 251 million children had no access to their right to education as outlined in the UNCRC.

That's about one-sixth of the population of children all over the world.

They also found that in Afghanistan, there was the lowest rate of children who received a primary education.

So just 33% of children.

According to UNESCO, how many children did not have access to education in 2024? Is it A, 251,000? B, 251 million? Or C, 251 billion? Pause your video and choose the correct answer.

The correct answer was B, 251 million children, around a sixth of the population worldwide.

We're going to think about a case study whereby some children are not having their right to education being upheld.

In Nigeria, which is in West Africa, there are 195.

9 million people living.

It is also the largest economy in Africa.

However, despite having a massive economy, there is a big gap between the rich and the poor.

There is also an ongoing conflict in the north-east region of the country.

This means that there is fighting going on within this space.

Precious is a UK-trained social worker who's been working with children and families involved in the conflict in north-east Nigeria.

She knows what it looks like for a child to be denied their right to education.

This is because it's inaccessible for some children.

Precious is telling us that "conflict in north-east Nigeria means that a lot of children have had to leave their homes.

Children in the region tend to live in large families.

That can be difficult for parents to meet the basic needs for their children.

They often have little food or resources and education can be the last of their priorities, as schools can be very expensive.

Schools are also sometimes targeted with violence, so they're not safe spaces like they are in the UK.

Some children in north-east Nigeria produced a radio show to explain what life was like for them.

They wanted to reach a wide audience and share their message for people to be grateful for their education because it's denied to so many children across the world.

The lack of opportunities for some people in less developed countries means that education is not received at all or very little is given when children are very young." Let's see what we remember from that case study.

Which is not a reason why children are denied their right to education? Is it A, a lack of money? B, natural disasters? C, conflict or war? Or D, equality laws? Pause your video and choose your answer now.

The correct answer was equality laws.

Let's think about another case study.

Sam is asking, "Do we know who this person is?" That person is called Malala Yousafzai.

She is a Pakistani activist who stood up for her right to education despite living under the rule of the Taliban, who banned girls from attending school in her region.

She began speaking out publicly.

She wrote a blog for the BBC and gave interviews to raise awareness about the importance of the right to education for girls.

Her activism made her a target, and in 2012, she was shot by the Taliban gunmen but survived.

Malala's resilience and commitment to education have made her a global symbol of courage and advocacy.

That means you speak up for someone else.

It earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.

She was the youngest person to ever receive this award at just 17 years old.

True or false? Malala Yousafzai won the Nobel Physics Prize in 2014.

Pause your video and choose your answer now.

The correct answer is false.

This is because she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, not the Physics Prize.

This was for her advocacy work for the right to education for all children around the world.

Well done if you got that right.

Let's put this into practise.

Andeep says that "children in the UK are given the right to education by the UNCRC which is guaranteed by law.

I think this is the same for all countries." I'd like you to think about whether children are always given the right to education? Correct and expand on Andeep's answer.

Pause your video and do this now.

I asked you to expand and correct Andeep's answer.

Your answer might have included some of the following.

Children in the UK are given the right to education by the UNCRC.

This is guaranteed by law.

In some countries, children are denied their right to education.

This might be due to the effects of natural disasters or because of conflict and wars.

For example, in Nigeria, schools can be targeted with violence during the ongoing conflict in the north-east region.

Therefore, they're not safe spaces like they are in the UK.

Moreover, Nigerian families are often large and can't always afford to give their children an education when they're struggling just to afford food.

Well done if you included some of that in your answer.

Today, we have been thinking about what does the right to education really mean? We've learnt that a child's right to education is protected by law in the UNCRC.

The UNCRC states that all children should be legally entitled to a primary school education without discrimination.

We learnt that education is important because it gives children knowledge and skills, improves their opportunities, empowers them, and makes the world a better place.

It also promotes equality and can improve children's mental and physical health.

Many children in the world can't access their right to education due to natural disasters, conflicts, or government policies, like the Taliban who do not allow women to get an education in Afghanistan.

Change-makers like Malala Yousafzai advocate for the right of every child around the world to access their right to education.

That's the end of today's lesson.

Thank you for joining me.