In its Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report, the multilateral agency proposes concrete actions for a better regulation of non-state schools, in which 40 percent of pre-primary pupils, 20 percent of primary pupils and 30 percent of secondary and tertiary students are now educated.

According to the specialized UN agency in education, science and culture issues, it reveals that only 27 percent of the States explicitly prohibit profit making in primary and secondary schools, “which runs counter to the vision of 12 years of free education for all.”

It also calls to establish quality standards that apply to all state and non-state education institutions, strengthen government capacity to monitor and enforce regulations, encourage innovation for the common good and bring together all actors who develop them, and protect education from narrow vested interests.

The team in charge of preparing the GEM report has the mandate of monitoring progress in meeting the Sustainable Development Goal on education in the 2030 Agenda.

Regarding the publication, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said that equitable funding mechanisms are urgently needed, arguing that those living in more disadvantaged contexts should not be penalized.

pgh/iff/acl/wmr