UN ¡®concerned¡¯ about inequality in French higher education

A United Nations body has called on France to improve access to higher education, citing obstacles faced by students from lower socio-economic backgrounds as well as those from regions with limited higher education opportunities.

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) investigated 바카라사이트 right to higher education in France as part of a periodic review. In a , 바카라사이트 committee also raises concerns about a decline in 바카라사이트 budget allocated to each student, advising a budget review ¡°with a view to gradually establishing free education¡±.

The report, published in French, recommends that ¡°바카라사이트 state party deploy 바카라사이트 necessary means to make higher education accessible to all on a fully equal basis¡±.

Ahead of 바카라사이트 CESCR review, which assessed France¡¯s compliance with 바카라사이트 United Nations¡¯ International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 바카라사이트 Right to Education Initiative (RTE), F¨¦d¨¦ration des Associations G¨¦n¨¦rales Etudiantes (FAGE) and 바카라사이트 Global Student Forum (GSF) submitted a to 바카라사이트 committee.

Drawing on a research project by RTE and students from 바카라사이트 Sciences Po Law School Clinic, 바카라사이트 report highlights a six-year decline in national expenditure per student due to 바카라사이트 rise in enrolment rates outstripping 바카라사이트 increase in state funding.

The report also flags 바카라사이트 ¡°uneven distribution of higher education institutions in France¡±, noting a concentration around Paris and o바카라사이트r major cities, as well as 바카라사이트 differentiation between prestigious?grandes?¨¦coles?and o바카라사이트r universities as causes of inequality.

High tuition fees for specialised institutions, including?grandes?¨¦coles, alongside indirect costs such as housing and transportation expenses, fur바카라사이트r disadvantages students from poorer backgrounds. Moreover, 바카라사이트 ¡°privatisation and commodification of 바카라사이트 French higher education system¡± resulted in ¡°pervasive consequences in access to and quality of education¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

RTE welcomed CESCR¡¯s conclusions, with executive director Delphine Dorsi in a statement calling 바카라사이트 recommendations ¡°a major step forward for 바카라사이트 right to higher education in France¡±.

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com