The right to education.

34. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE
170. The right to education

The General Assembly, Recalling the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 2200 A (XXI) of 16 December 1966, which recognizes the right of everyone to education, Bearing in mind the importance of the Convention against Discrimination in Education,[1] adopted on 14 December 1960 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Convinced of the topicality of the provisions of General Assembly resolution 2542 (XXIV) of 11 December 1969, containing the Declaration on Social Progress and Development which, inter alia, stresses the importance of the training of national personnel and cadres for the over-all development of society, Emphasizing the paramount importance of the implementation of the right to education for the full development of human personality and for the enjoyment of other fundamental human rights and freedoms, Considering that the educational process could bring a substantial contribution to social progress, national development, mutual understanding and co-operation among peoples and to strengthening peace and international security, Reaffirming the decisive importance of the training of national personnel and cadres, including the establishment of, and improvement in, the legislative framework, which should ensure the implementation and guarantee the full enjoyment of the right to education, Recalling that the establishment of the new international economic order requires effective support for the improvement and expansion of educational systems and for the training of specialized personnel and qualified cadres for the economic development of the developing countries, Convinced that the United Nations and the specialized agencies, in particular the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, could continue to play an increasing role in supporting the implementation of the right to education, the development of education and the training of national personnel needed by all sectors of activity in conformity with the requirements of the over-all progress and development of the developing countries, Bearing in mind the valuable work of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the education and training of national personnel, as well as the importance of its contribution to the preparation and implementation of the new international development strategy, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 33/193 of 29 January 1979,

1. Invites all States to consider the adoption of appropriate legislative, administrative and other measures, including material guarantees, in order to ensure the full implementation of the right to universal education through, inter alia, free and compulsory primary education, universal and gradually free-of-charge secondary education, equal access to all educational facilities and the access of the young generation to science and culture;

2. Appeals to all States, in particular the developed countries, actively to support through fellowships and other means the efforts of the developing countries in the education and training of national personnel needed in industry, agriculture and other economic and social sectors;

3. Requests the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to submit to the General Assembly at its thirty-fifth session a preliminary report and, at its thirty-sixth session, a final report containing:

(a) Information on the activities of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in relation to support for education and training of national personnel of developing countries;

(b) His views and suggestions, in accordance with the organization's mandate and after consultation with Member States and specialized agencies, on the need for and the possibility of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization reinforcing its programmes and activities for the purpose of cooperating with developing countries in their efforts to ensure adequate education networks at all levels as well as fellowships and facilities for the training of qualified national personnel, bearing in mind also the proposals contained in General Assembly resolution 33/135 of 19 December 1978;

(c) Information on the difficulties and obstacles encountered in the full implementation of the right to education, particularly in developing countries, in conformity with their own requirements of over-all progress and development, as well as his conclusions on action to be taken in this regard.

106th plenary meeting
17 December 1979

---

[1] United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 429, No. 6193, p. 93.