WORLD Policy Analysis Center

Does the constitution explicitly guarantee citizens’ right to free primary education?

Right to free primary education means the constitution explicitly mentions a right to free education, a right to free primary education, or a right to free education at all levels.

No specific provision means that the constitution does not explicitly mention free primary education. This does not mean that the constitution denies the right to free primary education, but that it does not explicitly include this right.

Income-dependent or only for certain groups means that the constitution only explicitly guarantees the right to free primary education for certain groups or allows for contributions to the cost of primary education for higher-income households.

Aspirational provision means that the constitution protects the right to free primary education, but does not use language strong enough to be considered a guarantee. For example, constitutions in this category might make it a state policy to promote free primary education.

To be progressively realized means that the constitution specifies that the right to free primary education will be realized progressively or that free primary education will be implemented within a certain time period.

Guaranteed right means that the constitution protects the right to free primary education in authoritative language. For example, constitutions in this category might guarantee citizens’ right to free primary education or make it the State’s responsibility to provide free primary education.

Countries

Andorra - No specific provision

Antigua and Barbuda - No specific provision

Armenia - No specific provision

Australia - No specific provision

Austria - No specific provision

Bahamas - No specific provision

Barbados - No specific provision

Belize - No specific provision

Bosnia and Herzegovina - No specific provision

Botswana - No specific provision

Brunei - No specific provision

Burkina Faso - No specific provision

Burundi - No specific provision

Cameroon - No specific provision

Canada - No specific provision

China - No specific provision

Comoros - No specific provision

Republic of the Congo - No specific provision

Cote d'Ivoire - No specific provision

Djibouti - No specific provision

Dominica - No specific provision

Eritrea - No specific provision

Ethiopia - No specific provision

Germany - No specific provision

Grenada - No specific provision

Iceland - No specific provision

Indonesia - No specific provision

Israel - No specific provision

Kiribati - No specific provision

Laos - No specific provision

Lebanon - No specific provision

Liberia - No specific provision

Libya - No specific provision

Malaysia - No specific provision

Marshall Islands - No specific provision

Mauritania - No specific provision

Mauritius - No specific provision

Micronesia, Federated States of - No specific provision

Morocco - No specific provision

Mozambique - No specific provision

Nauru - No specific provision

The Netherlands - No specific provision

New Zealand - No specific provision

Norway - No specific provision

Oman - No specific provision

Papua New Guinea - No specific provision

Samoa - No specific provision

Saudi Arabia - No specific provision

Senegal - No specific provision

Singapore - No specific provision

Solomon Islands - No specific provision

South Africa - No specific provision

Sri Lanka - No specific provision

St. Kitts and Nevis - No specific provision

St. Lucia - No specific provision

St. Vincent and the Grenadines - No specific provision

Tanzania - No specific provision

Tonga - No specific provision

Trinidad and Tobago - No specific provision

Tuvalu - No specific provision

United Kingdom - No specific provision

United States of America - No specific provision

Vanuatu - No specific provision

Yemen - No specific provision

Zambia - No specific provision

Colombia - Income dependent or only for specific groups

Angola - Aspirational provision

Argentina - Aspirational provision

Bangladesh - Aspirational provision

Bhutan - Aspirational provision

Gabon - Aspirational provision

Guinea-Bissau - Aspirational provision

Malta - Aspirational provision

Myanmar - Aspirational provision

Nigeria - Aspirational provision

Qatar - Aspirational provision

Sierra Leone - Aspirational provision

Timor-Leste - Aspirational provision

Türkiye - Aspirational provision

Uganda - Aspirational provision

Uruguay - Aspirational provision

Benin - To be progressively realized

Fiji - To be progressively realized

Ghana - To be progressively realized

Lesotho - To be progressively realized

Malawi - To be progressively realized

Eswatini - To be progressively realized

Togo - To be progressively realized

Zimbabwe - To be progressively realized

Afghanistan - Guaranteed right

Albania - Guaranteed right

Algeria - Guaranteed right

Azerbaijan - Guaranteed right

Bahrain - Guaranteed right

Belarus - Guaranteed right

Belgium - Guaranteed right

Bolivia - Guaranteed right

Brazil - Guaranteed right

Bulgaria - Guaranteed right

Cambodia - Guaranteed right

Cabo Verde - Guaranteed right

Central African Republic - Guaranteed right

Chad - Guaranteed right

Chile - Guaranteed right

Democratic Republic of the Congo - Guaranteed right

Costa Rica - Guaranteed right

Croatia - Guaranteed right

Cuba - Guaranteed right

Cyprus - Guaranteed right

Czech Republic - Guaranteed right

Denmark - Guaranteed right

Dominican Republic - Guaranteed right

Ecuador - Guaranteed right

Egypt - Guaranteed right

El Salvador - Guaranteed right

Equatorial Guinea - Guaranteed right

Estonia - Guaranteed right

Finland - Guaranteed right

France - Guaranteed right

The Gambia - Guaranteed right

Georgia - Guaranteed right

Greece - Guaranteed right

Greenland - Guaranteed right

Guatemala - Guaranteed right

Guinea - Guaranteed right

Guyana - Guaranteed right

Haiti - Guaranteed right

Honduras - Guaranteed right

Hungary - Guaranteed right

India - Guaranteed right

Iran - Guaranteed right

Iraq - Guaranteed right

Ireland - Guaranteed right

Italy - Guaranteed right

Jamaica - Guaranteed right

Japan - Guaranteed right

Jordan - Guaranteed right

Kazakhstan - Guaranteed right

Kenya - Guaranteed right

Democratic People's Republic of Korea - Guaranteed right

Republic of Korea - Guaranteed right

Kuwait - Guaranteed right

Kyrgyzstan - Guaranteed right

Latvia - Guaranteed right

Liechtenstein - Guaranteed right

Lithuania - Guaranteed right

Luxembourg - Guaranteed right

North Macedonia - Guaranteed right

Madagascar - Guaranteed right

Maldives - Guaranteed right

Mali - Guaranteed right

Mexico - Guaranteed right

Moldova - Guaranteed right

Monaco - Guaranteed right

Mongolia - Guaranteed right

Montenegro - Guaranteed right

Namibia - Guaranteed right

Nepal - Guaranteed right

Nicaragua - Guaranteed right

Niger - Guaranteed right

Pakistan - Guaranteed right

Palau - Guaranteed right

Panama - Guaranteed right

Paraguay - Guaranteed right

Peru - Guaranteed right

The Philippines - Guaranteed right

Poland - Guaranteed right

Portugal - Guaranteed right

Romania - Guaranteed right

Russian Federation - Guaranteed right

Rwanda - Guaranteed right

San Marino - Guaranteed right

Sao Tome and Principe - Guaranteed right

Serbia - Guaranteed right

Seychelles - Guaranteed right

Slovakia - Guaranteed right

Slovenia - Guaranteed right

Somalia - Guaranteed right

South Sudan - Guaranteed right

Spain - Guaranteed right

Sudan - Guaranteed right

Suriname - Guaranteed right

Sweden - Guaranteed right

Switzerland - Guaranteed right

Syria - Guaranteed right

Tajikistan - Guaranteed right

Thailand - Guaranteed right

Tunisia - Guaranteed right

Turkmenistan - Guaranteed right

Ukraine - Guaranteed right

United Arab Emirates - Guaranteed right

Uzbekistan - Guaranteed right

Venezuela - Guaranteed right

Vietnam - Guaranteed right