CCRC Commentary on the Right to Education

Education is not a one-size fits all. It was not pre-pandemic and will not be post-pandemic. Children have diverse needs and abilities that vary based on their individual contexts. Unfortunately, their diverse abilities and needs have not been fully considered nor have their voices been heard since the beginning of the pandemic. Check out the …

The Right to Know Rights, Curriculum Reform, and Parental Rights in Education

Children’s right to learn about their rights was identified as a top priority during the recent Raise the Bar for Children’s Rights conference, hosted by the CCRC.  The benefits of teaching children and parents about children’s rights are evident in research and practice.  Fulfilling the Convention in Canada requires scaling up existing good practices so …

Back to School: The Aims of Education

Every child has a right to an education.  That is widely accepted in Canada.   It leads to debates about access, equity in funding, drop-out rates, and school fees as a barrier to some essential activities.  Article 28 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child provides principles for sound educational policy in these …

Katelynn’s Principle: The child must be at the centre

On Friday, April 29, the jury in the Inquest into the Death of Katelynn Sampson, delivered a number of significant recommendations which are founded on the rights of children, particularly the right to be heard but also their full rights  under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Katelynn was only 7 years …

Early Childhood Education Costs: a thought-provoking report

A new research report compares what parents contribute to the costs of early childhood education with what they contribute to post-secondary education costs.  These are two non-mandatory components of preparing children for full participation in society, but both are increasingly essential for young people.  The research shows that  “parents with children in PSE (post-secondary education) …

Cyberbullying Report

Post submitted by CCRC Board Member, Lisa Wolff of UNICEF Canada: The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights released an important report for Canada’s children Wednesday, Cyberbullying Hurts: Respect for Rights in the Digital Age. The Committee’s key message is that focus is needed on prevention, mainly through digital citizenship information and education, with less default …

Education for All Children in Canada

Is it acceptable that some children in Canada cannot go to school, while most children do? Most children in Canada can go to school, but some Aboriginal children can not.   The Auditor General did an investigation and showed that less money is spent on education for First Nations children than for comparable non-Aboriginal children. The government …