Yesterday, the judge of the administrative court of Cayenne sentenced the Rectorate of Guyana to educate a young 15-year-old college student in an establishment located in the geographical area of his home. The epilogue of a fight that began in October 2020.
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A historic victory for education for all. Yesterday, Friday July 27, the Administrative Court of Cayenne ordered the Rectorate of Guyana to educate a young 15-year-old Remiran in an establishment adapted to his age, his level of education and especially located in the geographical area of his municipality of residence.
The end of a fight fought for more than a year and a half
In October 2020, 20 families took legal action so that the communities and the Rectorate of Guyana respect the right of each child to be educated.
As recalled then, the Education Without Borders Network (RESF), “the state must allow all young people from 3 to 16 years minimum, to follow a free and secular education.“
Less than a year later, only one of the 20 young people concerned was still not in school: domiciled in Rémire-Montjoly, he was assigned to Kourou. Four hours of outward journey and return difficult to reconcile with a serene schooling. Coming from a modest background, the teenager found himself physically and financially unable to attend college.
The decision of the Administrative Court of Cayenne, within the framework of a Freedom summary, therefore sounds like a new triumph for the right to education in Guyana, according to RESF.
“We now know that the right to education is also the right of access to a school, college or high school near to one’s home. This decision will be landmark.”
From now on, the rectorate therefore has a period of 14 days from August 27 to find an assignment for this young boy. If all goes well, the latter will be able to return to college on September 13, like all the other students in Guyana.
Aurore GOURSAUD for RESF Guyane
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In 2018, the out-of-school rate was “13.7%” (or 11,000 students), explained to AFP the rectorate of Guyana at the time. July 7, latest UNICEF report indicates that there are more than 10,000 out-of-school children in our territory.
RESF supports the CPEG (collective of parents of students from Guyana) and encourages all families whose children are refused access to school, to take legal action to ensure that the law is respected and therefore to contact them by email: [email protected].
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