Summary

In accordance with article 22 of the Convention, the specialized agencies of the United Nations system have been invited to submit to the Committee, at its ninety-first session, reports on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their activities.

I.Introduction

1.UNESCO’s work on education and gender equality is guided by the UNESCO strategy for gender equality in and through education, which ends this year and emphasizes both system-wide transformation to benefit to all learners and targeted interventions to empower girls and women. It reflects UNESCO’s vision to ensure that all learners – girls and boys, women and men – can fully realize their rights and potential through education.

2.Promoting the right to education for girls and women remains a top priority for UNESCO. The Organization advocates for gender equality in participation in, within and through education. To achieve this, UNESCO provides technical support to its Member States to align their constitutional, legislative and policy frameworks with international norms and commitments. In addition, UNESCO supports the development and implementation of gender-transformative strategies that address key barriers hindering girls’ and women’s access to quality education opportunities.

3.UNESCO plays a key role within the United Nations system in supporting the implementation of several provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Notably, this includes Article 10, which calls on States parties to “take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in order to ensure to them equal rights with men in the field of education”.

4.The Organization also monitors the status of national constitutions, legislation and regulations related to girls’ and women’s education rights across the world through “HerAtlas”, an interactive online tool that constitutes a valuable resource in compiling this report. UNESCO’s “Her Education, Our Future” initiative – to which HerAtlas contributes – was designed to accelerate action on girls’ and women’s education by leveraging political and financial commitments, and leadership.

5.From a broader perspective, the “Observatory on the right to education” monitoring tool has also been useful for this report. By highlighting inequalities across countries and publishing data on the implementation of the right to education at the national level, the Observatory has provided useful valuable documentation and insights.

6.To monitor and advocate for the right to education without discrimination, UNESCO regularly monitors the implementation of the 1960 Convention and Recommendation against Discrimination in Education through periodic consultations, requesting Member States to submit national reports on the measures taken to implement the Convention and Recommendation. To follow-up effectively on the information obtained, an analytical report synthesizing the findings of the national reports is then prepared. The new ongoing Consultation on the Convention and Recommendation resulted in the submission of 94 reports, with its conclusion foreseen for the end of 2025.

II.Measures taken by countries under review

Inputs for the 91st session:

Afghanistan

7.Further details regarding this contribution can be found in the UNESCO report “Banned from education – A review of the right to education in Afghanistan”.

8.Afghanistan ratified the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education on 25 January 2010.

9.While the de facto authorities initially declared that they would temporarily reintroduce the 1964 Constitution (without implementing provisions that would be considered contrary to sharia law), this was not followed by any formal process; therefore, the country currently remains without a formal Constitution.

10.Girls have been banned from secondary education since September 2021. Girls are only allowed to pursue education beyond Grade 6 in religious education institutions. In October 2022, women were restricted from selected specialized fields of study considered ‘too challenging’, with courses such as agriculture, veterinary science, civil engineering, medicine and mining being prohibited for women throughout the country. This measure was further exacerbated when, in December 2022, the education ban was extended to women in universities. In December 2024, the de facto authorities further restricted one of the few remaining options for girls and women by barring them from attending institutions offering medical education.

11.In December 2021, the de facto authorities issued a decree on women’s rights which states that they should not get married without their own consent, but does not specify a minimum age of marriage.

12.There is no information available on the minimum age of employment. However, girls are banned from education after the 6th grade and their right to work is also limited, with bans applying to various fields of work such as foreign organizations, NGOs, the United Nations and participation in radio and TV shows, as well as restrictions on teaching.

13.Afghanistan did not submit a national report on the measures taken to implement the Convention against Discrimination in Education to the most recent 11th Consultation (2024–2025).

Botswana

14.Botswana has not ratified the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education; it should be recommended to do so.

15.The Constitution of Botswana of 1996, as amended in 2006, does not enshrine the right to education, however it provides for non-discrimination including that based on sex. The Children’s Act of 2009 guarantees the right to free basic education for every child and prohibits discrimination notably based on sex.

16.The legislation of Botswana does not provide for compulsory education, and although the Children’s Act guarantees free basic education, the Education Act of 1966 as amended in 2003 is contradictory and states that fees can be charged in all schools. No legal provision has been identified guaranteeing free or compulsory pre-primary education.

17.Under the Marriage Act of 2001, the minimum age of marriage is 21 – or 18 with parental consent.

18.According to the legislation, corporal punishment is legal in Botswana and regulated through a number of provisions. No legal provision has been identified that protects from violence in educational institutions.

19.Per the Employment Act of 1982 as amended in 2010, the minimum age of employment is 15. No compulsory education period has been identified in the law; therefore, it is not possible to know whether the two ages are aligned.

20.According to the latest data of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), in 2022 the gross enrolment rate in primary education stood at 109% globally (108% for girls, and 110% for boys). In 2021, the gross enrolment rate in secondary education was 71% globally – 74% for girls and 67% for boys.

21.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2020 expenditure on education by Botswana represented 8.06% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 21.47% of total governmental expenditure. 

22.Botswana submitted a national report on the measures taken to implement the Convention against Discrimination in Education to the current 11th Consultation on the Convention and Recommendation against Discrimination in Education.

Chad

23.Chad has not ratified the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education; it should be recommended to do so.

24.The Constitution of Chad enshrines the right to education, but for citizens only. The Constitution sets out the principle of gender equality and the principle of non‑discrimination against women. The 2006 Law on education guarantees the right to education for all, regardless of gender.

25.The legislation provides for 10 years of free and compulsory primary and secondary education. No legal provision guaranteeing free and compulsory pre-primary education has been identified.

26.Under Order No. 006/PR/2015 prohibiting the marriage of minors, adopted by Law No. 029/PR/2015, the minimum legal age of marriage is set at 18 years old – without exceptions.

27.The Law on education guarantees the physical and moral integrity of pupils, and prohibits violence and physical abuse. Corporal punishment is not explicitly prohibited.

28.According to the Labour Code of 1996, the minimum legal age for work is 14 years, which may be lowered by decree; this is not aligned with the age limit for compulsory education.

29.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2023 the gross enrolment rate in primary education stood at 88% globally (81% for girls and 96% for boys), while the gross enrolment rate in secondary education was 24% globally – 19% for girls and 29% for boys.

30.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2023 expenditure on education by Chad represented 3.20% of GDP and 16.48% of total governmental expenditure. 

31.Chad submitted a national report on the measures taken to implement the Convention against Discrimination in Education to the current 11th Consultation on the Convention and Recommendation against Discrimination in Education.

Ireland

32.Ireland has not ratified the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education; it should be recommended to do so.

33.The Constitution of Ireland mentions education but does not guarantee it as a right. It contains a provision on equality before the law, without mentioning the grounds of sex or gender. No legislative provisions that enshrine the right to education have been identified. The Education (Admission to Schools) Act prohibits discrimination in admission based on gender and the Equal Status Act prohibits discrimination in educational establishments.

34.The legislation of Ireland makes primary and secondary education compulsory from 6 to 16 years old. The Constitution guarantees free primary education. Although the Admission to Schools Act (2018) prohibits fees and the seeking of payments or contributions for application, admission and continued enrolment of students in schools, there is no explicit reference to the levels of education or number of years of free education. No legislative provision guaranteeing free or compulsory pre-school education has been identified.

35.Per the Family Law Act of 1995, the minimum age of marriage for girls is 18 but a judge can allow exceptions when there are serious reasons, and no absolute minimum age is defined.

36.According to the Equal Status Act of 2000, discrimination in educational establishments is prohibited on the grounds of pregnancy or parenthood. Corporal punishment is prohibited in schools under two Circulars adopted in 1982 as well as under the 2001 Children Act. The Children First Act protects from harm but does not explicitly cover all forms of violence.

37.The Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act of 1996 sets the minimum age for employment at 16 years old or the school-leaving age – whichever is the higher.

38.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2022 the gross enrolment rate in primary education stood at 100% globally (101% for girls, and 99% for boys), while the gross enrolment rate in secondary education was at 133% globally (139% for girls and 127% for boys).

39.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2021 expenditure on education by Ireland represented 3.01% of GDP and 12.02% of total governmental expenditure. 

40.Ireland did not submit a national report on the measures taken to implement the Convention against Discrimination in Education to the most recent 11th Consultation (2024–2025). It should be recommended that the country participate more systematically in the monitoring consultations conducted by UNESCO.

Mexico

41.Mexico has not ratified the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education; it should be recommended that it do so.

42.The legal framework of Mexico enshrines the right to education for all, without discrimination based on gender.

43.The legislation guarantees free and compulsory primary and secondary education for a duration of 12 years, starting from 6 years of age. It also guarantees three years of free and compulsory pre-primary education.

44.The Federal Civil Code of 1928 as amended in 2019, and the General Law on the Rights of Children and Adolescents of 2014 as amended in 2018, set the minimum age of marriage at 18 years old, without exception.

45.The legislation protects access, retention and re-entry to education of pregnant girls and adolescents. The legislation also guarantees protection from corporal punishment and all kinds of violence – including psychological, physical and sexual violence – in educational institutions.

46.The legal framework sets out a minimum age of employment at 15 years old, which is not aligned with the end of compulsory education (18), however it is not permissible to work between the ages of 15 and 18 years if basic education has not been completed.

47.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2022 the gross enrolment rate in primary education stood at 102% globally (102% for girls, and 102% for boys), while the gross enrolment rate in secondary education was 98% globally (105% for girls and 92% for boys).

48.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2021 expenditure on education by Mexico represented 4.25% of GDP and 15.88% of total governmental expenditure. 

49.Mexico did not submit a national report on the measures taken to implement the Convention against Discrimination in Education to the most recent 11th Consultation (2024–2025). It should be recommended that the country participate more systematically in the monitoring consultations conducted by UNESCO.

San Marino

50.San Marino ratified the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education on 11 June 2020.

51.The San Marino Constitution enshrines the right to education, but for citizens only. It contains a provision on non-discrimination based on gender. The law guarantees the right to education without discrimination of any kind but does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sex or gender.

52.The legislation of San Marino guarantees 10 years of compulsory primary and secondary education, from 6 to 16 years of age. Although the Constitution guarantees the right to free education, no other legislative provisions have been identified concerning the levels covered by free education or the length thereof. No legislative provisions guaranteeing free and compulsory pre-primary education have been identified.

53.The legislation sets the legal age of marriage at 18 years, but this may be lowered to 16 years of age by a judge.

54.The Framework Act on University Education prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy; personal, social and health conditions; and family choices.

55.The legislation sets the minimum age of employment at 16 years of age, which corresponds to the end of compulsory schooling.

56.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2023 the gross enrolment rate in primary education stood at 95% globally (97% for girls and 94% for boys), while the gross enrolment rate in secondary education was 61% globally (60% for girls and 62% for boys).

57.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2022 expenditure on education by San Marino represented 3.43% of GDP and 7.46% of total governmental expenditure. 

58.San Marino submitted a national report on the measures taken to implement the Convention against Discrimination in Education to the current 11th Consultation on the Convention and Recommendation against Discrimination in Education.

Thailand

59.Thailand has not ratified the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education; it and should be recommended that it do so.

60.The Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand of 2017 does not enshrine the right to education, only stating that the State should ensure that every child receives quality education. There is an equality provision that ensures equal rights for men and women. The National Education Act contains a provision on equal rights to receive education for all individuals, but it is limited to basic education.

61.The legal framework guarantees nine years of free and compulsory primary and lower secondary education, starting at the age of seven to that of 16. The Constitution guarantees three years of pre-primary education free of charge, but it is not compulsory.

62.According to the Civil and Commercial Code of 1985, the minimum age of marriage is 20 for both sexes. However, it is possible to get married from 17 years old with the consent of the legal guardians, and exceptions permit marriage below the age of 17 years where there is judicial consent – without setting an absolute minimum age.

63.The 2016 Act for Prevention and Solution of the Adolescent Pregnancy Problem protects the right to education of pregnant girls, but no dispositions regarding parenting girls have been identified. The regulation on Student Punishment of 2005 prohibits corporal punishment. No legal provisions concerning other kinds of violence in educational institutions have been identified.

64.The minimum age of employment is 15, which is aligned with the end of compulsory education.

65.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2023 the gross enrolment rate in primary education stood at 103% globally (101% for girls and 106% for boys), while the gross enrolment rate in secondary education was 110% globally (110% for girls and 110% for boys).

66.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2023 expenditure on education by Thailand represented 2.52% of GDP and 11.59% of total governmental expenditure. 

67.Thailand submitted a national report on the measures taken to implement the Convention against Discrimination in Education to the current 11th Consultation on the Convention and Recommendation against Discrimination in Education.

Inputs for the pre-sessional working group (PSWG) for the 93rd session:

Angola

68.The Republic of Angola has not ratified the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education; it should be recommended that it do so.

69.The 2010 Constitution of the Republic of Angola as amended in 2021 enshrines the right to education, but only for children. It contains a provision on equality before the law without discrimination on the grounds of sex. The Framework Law on Education (No. 17/16), as amended in 2020 guarantees the right to education and prohibits all forms of discrimination.

70.The Framework Law on Education (No. 17/16), as amended in 2020, provides for nine years of compulsory primary and lower secondary education, starting at the age of six. The same Law provides for free primary education, including materials and school meals. Secondary education is partially free, with upper secondary and higher education costs generally covered by families. Pre-primary education is compulsory and free for at least one year, with kindergarten available from ages three to six.

71.According to the Republic of Angola’s Family Code of 1988, the legal age of marriage is 18 for both men and women. However, the Code does allow for exceptions for boys (age 16) and girls (age 15) with parental consent.

72.The Child Law (No. 25/12) does not explicitly prohibit corporal punishment in educational institutions. In addition, no provisions on the prohibition of all forms of violence in educational institutions could be identified.

73.The Labour Law (No. 07/15) sets the minimum age of employment at 14 years old; while this aligns with the end of compulsory education, it fails to meet the ILO Convention 138’s minimum age requirements.

74.According to the latest data of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), in 2022 the gross enrolment rate in primary education stood at 87% globally (85% for girls and 89% for boys), while in 2021 the gross enrolment rate in secondary education was 53% globally (49% for girls and 57% for boys).

75.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2023 expenditure on education by the Republic of Angola represented 2.51% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 7.74% of total governmental expenditure.

76.The Republic of Angola submitted a national report on the measures taken to implement the Convention against Discrimination in Education to the current 11th Consultation on the Convention and Recommendation against Discrimination in Education.

Comoros

77.Comoros has not ratified the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education; it should be recommended that it ratify it.

78.The Constitution of the Union of Comoros of 2018 enshrines the right to education for citizens only. The Constitution contains a principle of equality of all citizens before the law without discrimination, with a specific mention of sex. The Law No. 20-034/AU of December 12, 2020, revising Law No. 94-035/AF on the orientation of education, enshrines the right to education – but only for children. It also guarantees equal rights and opportunities, and non-discrimination.

79.The Law No. 20-034/AU of 12 December 2020, revising Law No. 94-035/AF on the orientation of education, guarantees 9 years of compulsory elementary and secondary education ending at 16 years. No legislative provision guaranteeing free education has been identified. According to the same Law, pre-primary education is compulsory for three years – starting at age three – but no disposition regarding it being free-of-charge has been identified.

80.The Family Code sets the minimum age of marriage at 18 years, but judicial exceptions allow marriage before that age with no absolute minimum.

81.The Law No. 20-034/AU of 12 December 2020, revising Law No. 94-035/AF on the orientation of education, explicitly prohibits corporal punishment, moral abuse, harassment and all other forms of violence in educational institutions.

82.The Law repealing, amending and supplementing certain provisions of Law No. 84-108/PR on the Labour Code sets the minimum legal age for employment at 15 years of age, which is aligned with the end of compulsory education.

83.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2023 the gross enrolment rate in primary education stood at 97% globally (94% for girls and 100% for boys), while the gross enrolment rate in secondary education was 54% globally (55% for girls and 53% for boys).

84.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2023 expenditure on education by the Union of Comoros represented 2.34% of GDP and, in 2025, 11.52% of total governmental expenditure. 

85.Comoros did not submit a national report on the measures taken to implement the Convention against Discrimination in Education to the most recent 11th Consultation (2024–2025). It should be recommended that the country participate more systematically in the monitoring consultations conducted by UNESCO.

Guinea-Bissau

86.Guinea-Bissau has not ratified the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education; it should be recommended that it do so.

87.The legal framework of Guinea-Bissau enshrines the right to education for citizens only. The 1984 Constitution of Guinea-Bissau, as amended in 1996, provides that men and women are equal before the law. The 2010 Framework Law on Education only states that education should pursue the objective of equal opportunities for both sexes.

88.The Framework Law on Education of 2010 guarantees 9 years of compulsory primary and secondary education. The first 6 years of primary education are free and Grades 7–9 tend to be free according to the economic possibilities of the state. The Framework Law on Education does not guarantee free and compulsory pre-primary education.

89.In Guinea-Bissau, the 1966 Civil Code, as amended in 1976, sets the minimum age of marriage of both girls and boys at 16 years old.

90.No legal provision related to protection from corporal punishment and violence has been identified.

91.According to the General Labour Law of 1986 (not available), the minimum age of employment would be 14 years old, but children can work before that age if attendance of the compulsory schooling system is not possible due to the inexistence of schooling facilities or proven similar reasons.

92.There are no recent UIS data on gross enrolment rates in primary and secondary education in Guinea-Bissau.

93.There are no recent UIS data on government expenditure on education in Guinea-Bissau.

94.Guinea Bissau did not submit a national report on the measures taken to implement the Convention against Discrimination in Education to the most recent 11th Consultation (2024–2025). It should be recommended that the country participate more systematically in the monitoring consultations conducted by UNESCO.

Kazakhstan

95.The Republic of Kazakhstan ratified the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education on 15 April 2016.

96.The Constitution of Kazakhstan of 1995, with amendments up to 2022, does not comprehensively guarantee the right to education as it guarantees the right to obtain education up to higher education level only. It contains a provision on equality before the law without discrimination on the grounds of sex. The Law on Education of 2007 guarantees the right to education for all citizens and prohibits discrimination, but without explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on sex or gender.

97.The legal framework guarantees 11 years of free and compulsory primary and secondary education, starting from age 6 or 7, in State institutions. The 2007 Law on Education provides for one year of free and compulsory pre-primary education.

98.According to Republic of Kazakhstan’s 2011 Law on Marriage (Matrimony) and Family as amended in 2014, the legal age of marriage for both men and women is 18 years old, with non-judicial exceptions permitted if the person is at least 16 years old and with the consent of their legal guardians.

99.The 2007 Law on Education prohibits physical, moral, and mental violence against students but does not explicitly prohibit corporal punishment. No provisions explicitly protecting against all forms of violence, including gender-based, psychological, physical, or sexual violence in educational institutions, could be identified.

100.The 2007 Labour Code sets the minimum age of employment at 16 years old, which aligns with the end of compulsory education.

101.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2024 the gross enrolment rate in primary education stood at 98% globally (96% for girls and 99% for boys), while the gross enrolment rate in secondary education was 97% globally (97% for girls and 98% for boys).

102.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2023 expenditure on education by the Republic of Kazakhstan represented 4.87% of GDP and 19.95% of total governmental expenditure.

103.The Republic of Kazakhstan submitted a national report on the measures taken to implement the Convention against Discrimination in Education to the current 11th Consultation on the Convention and Recommendation against Discrimination in Education.

Paraguay

104.Paraguay has not ratified the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education; it should be recommended that it do so.

105.The legal framework of Paraguay enshrines the right to education for all without discrimination based on sex.

106.The legal framework guarantees 12 years of free and compulsory primary and secondary education starting at the age of six. The General law of education guarantees free and compulsory pre-primary education for one year, starting at age 5.

107.The reform of the Civil Code in 2015 defines 18 as the minimum age for marriage. The legal representatives of adolescents may authorize the marriage of minors between 16 and 18 years old.

108.The legislation explicitly guarantees and protects the right to education of pregnant and parenting girls and provides the necessary facilities to support their education. The legislation also prohibits the use of corporal punishment and humiliating treatment in educational institutions and protects from all kinds of gender-based violence, including in education institutions.

109.The 1993 Labour code defines 15 as the minimum age of employment, which is not aligned with the end of compulsory education (18).

110.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2023 the gross enrolment rate in primary education was 92% globally (91% for girls and 92% for boys) while the gross enrolment rate in secondary education was 81% globally (83% for girls and 79% for boys).

111.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2023 government expenditure on education by Paraguay represented 3.41% of GDP in 2023 and 21.99% of total governmental expenditure.

112.Paraguay did not submit a national report on the measures taken to implement the Convention against Discrimination in Education to the most recent 11th Consultation (2024–2025). It should be recommended that the country participate more systematically in the monitoring consultations conducted by UNESCO.

Poland

113.Poland ratified the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education on 15 September 1964.

114.The legal framework of Poland enshrines the right to education for all without discrimination based on sex.

115.The legal framework of Poland guarantees compulsory and free primary and secondary education for 12 years, starting the age of 7. The 2016 Law on School Education guarantees three years of free and one year of compulsory pre-primary education.

116.According to the 1964 Family and Guardianship Code, the minimum age of marriage in Poland is 18, but can be lowered to 16 for girls only with judicial consent.

117.The legislation explicitly guarantees the right to education of pregnant and parenting students and provides the necessary facilities to support their education. While the Constitution of Poland prohibits corporal punishment, but without explicitly referring to educational settings, the Family and Guardianship Code prohibits people taking care of minors from using corporal punishment. While the 1982 Teacher Charter states that teachers must ensure the safety of students, it does not explicitly refer to physical, sexual and psychological violence.

118.According to the legislation, the minimum age of employment is 18, which is aligned with the end of compulsory education. Between 15 and 18 years of age, adolescents may be employed for the purpose of vocational training once they have completed basic secondary school, which is considered part of the compulsory education period under the 2016 Law of School Education.

119.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2023 the gross enrolment rate in primary education stood at 105% globally (105% for girls and 106% for boys), while the gross enrolment rate in secondary education was 108% globally (108% for girls and 109% for boys).

120.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2022 government expenditure on education by Poland represented 4.61% of GDP and 10.54% of total governmental expenditure.

121.Poland did not submit a national report on the measures taken to implement the Convention against Discrimination in Education to the most recent 11th Consultation (2024–2025). It should be recommended that the country participate more systematically in the monitoring consultations conducted by UNESCO.

Republic of Moldova

122.The Republic of Moldova ratified the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education on 17 March 1993.

123.The Constitution ensures the right to education and contains a provision on equality before the law regardless of sex. The Education Code of 2014, as amended in 2019, enshrines the right to education and contains an equality principle, but without mentioning the grounds of sex or gender.

124.The 2014 Education Code, with amendments up to 2025, guarantees nine years of compulsory primary and secondary education starting at the age of seven. While the Constitution states that public education is free, it does not specify the duration of free education nor the levels. According to the Code, the State ensures the financing of a “standard package of educational services” up to high school, but it is unclear what this entails. The Code guarantees free and compulsory pre-primary education.

125.The Family Code of 2000 sets the legal age of marriage at 18; this can be lowered to 16 years of age with judicial and parental consent.

126.The Education Code prohibits corporal punishment, and physical or mental violence in educational settings. However, no dispositions regarding gender-based violence have been identified.

127.Under the 2003 Labour Code, the minimum age of employment is 15 years, which is aligned with the end of compulsory education.

128.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2022 the gross enrolment rate in primary education was at 107% globally (106% for girls and 108% for boys), while the gross enrolment rate in secondary education was at 98% globally (97% for girls and 98% for boys).

129.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2023 government expenditure on education by the Republic of Moldova represented 6.63% of GDP and 15.94% of total governmental expenditure.

130.The Republic of Moldova has submitted a national report on the measures taken to implement the Convention against Discrimination in Education to the most recent 11th Consultation (2024–2025).

Syrian Arab Republic

131.The Syrian Arab Republic has not ratified the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education; it should be recommended to do so.

132.The 2025 Constitutional Declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic enshrines the right to education, but only for women and children, and contains a principle of non‑discrimination based on sex. No provisions enshrining the right to education in the legislation have been identified.

133.The legislation guarantees nine years of free and compulsory primary and lower secondary education, starting at the age of six. The legal framework of the Syrian Arab Republic does not contain any provision regarding free and compulsory pre-primary education.

134.In the Syrian Arab Republic, the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years for boys and 17 years for girls. However, girls can marry at 13 years and boys at 15 years with judicial consent.

135.No legal provisions have been identified that explicitly prohibit corporal punishment and other kinds of violence in educational institutions.

136.The Labour Law of 2010 sets the minimum age of employment at 15 years old, which is aligned with the end of compulsory education.

137.According to UIS’ latest data, in 2024 the gross enrolment rate in primary education stood at 81% globally (82% for girls and 81% for boys), while the gross enrolment rate in secondary education was 39% globally (42% for girls and 36% for boys).

138.There are no recent UIS data on government expenditure on education in the Syrian Arab Republic.

139.The Syrian Arab Republic did not submit a national report on the measures taken to implement the Convention against Discrimination in Education for the most recent 11th Consultation (2024–2025). It should be recommended that the country participate more systematically in the monitoring consultations conducted by UNESCO.