*Translations are available in French and German.
GHEX European Home Education Summit Organized By:
GHEX Statement on Homeschooling in Europe
Following the global pandemic, more parents in Europe are seeking to home educate their children than ever before. Fundamental human rights norms acknowledge that parents are endowed with primary responsibility for their children’s education. The Rio Principles explains that home education is a human right that must be protected, respected and available to all families everywhere without undue burden. The GHEX calls on all governments to uphold the rights and duties outlined in the Rio Principles.
School shutdowns forced hundreds of millions of parents to home educate their children. Now, having experienced the benefits of this educational approach, more parents are interested. Although home education is increasingly available, some governments have imposed unnecessary regulatory burdens on families or have failed to take necessary steps to recognize the right of home education. Such interference with a parent’s right to home educate is not in keeping with fundamental human rights principles as recognized in all major human rights treaties and as comprehensively reviewed in the Rio Principles. These foundational human rights principles make it clear that parents come first in making educational decisions. As the UDHR articulates in Article 26.3, “parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education given to their children.”
In Europe, hundreds of thousands of children are home educated. The United Kingdom and France each have individual populations estimated to approach or exceed one hundred thousand children. Home Education is a huge movement in the United States with as many as 11 percent of all households estimated at four to six million children or about 6-8 percent of the school age population. A substantial and growing body of empirical and peer-reviewed research shows that home educated students perform as well as or better academically and socially than their peers in public or private schools. Other research in the United States indicates that regulation is not associated with outcomes. Children and youth in homeschooling meet and interact with people of all ages and cultures, providing them personalized educational opportunities and lives open to rich and diverse socialization and living experiences.
The GHEX regional Committee is holding the first European Regional Home Education Summit with scores of home education leaders from Europe and noted human rights and education law experts. The event will take place in Paris October 7th and October 8th, 2022. We stand in solidarity with all parents in Europe, especially France, and call on the French government to stop violating the human rights of thousands of families who are being arbitrarily denied the right to home educate their children. Our goal is to connect those who would stand up to these violations and argue for policies that respect these rights. The event is organized by the GHEX with Liberte Education and the Foundation pour L’Ecole LIBSCO conference on educational freedom.
Press Release on European Home Education Summit
First European Regional Home Education Summit Organized By The Global Home Education Exchange (GHEX)
October 7, 2022, Paris, France—GHEX announces the first European Regional Home Education Summit in Paris October 7th and 8th, 2022 at the Espace Charenton. The summit will take place at the same time as LIBSCO and is being organized with the support of Liberty Education, a home education NGO defending French families and advocating for home education freedom in France.
The first European Home Education Summit is sponsored by organizations supporting freedom for children to learn in the best situation. The summit brings home education organizations, policy makers and others together to share experiences, ideas, and strategies to help a growing and innovative educational movement. The summit will infuse new energy, insight, vision, and support to home education communities in Europe who are grappling with new challenges. Distinguished experts will bring practical solutions to these problems to help support an innovative educational approach that delivers exceptional results for children!
“This is a critical time in the history of home education in France. We welcome support from our fellow parents and from families around Europe and the world,” said Jean-Baptiste, Secretary General of Liberte Education, a co-promoter of the Event and a member of the GHEX advisory council. “With our fellow homeschool organizations, we are fighting for the right of families to be able to choose home education, a right recognized in France since 1882 and now in jeopardy. We will not stop fighting for the families and for what is right.”
“We are bringing together a diverse group with the intention to move towards a future that recognizes the importance of family choice in the education of children,” said Sílvia Cópio, Chair of the GHEX European Committee, and a Member of the Portuguese organization MEL.
To see the list of distinguished speakers, visit here or www.ghex.world.
A media breakfast will be held at 8 AM on October 7th. For more information about the conference, visit www.ghex.world. For information about the media breakfast, email Jean-Baptiste Maillard at: jbmaillard@liberteeducation.com.
- Liberte Education is a French organization dedicated to supporting the freedom of French families to homeschool. Learn more at www.liberteeducation.com.
- Foundation Pour l’Ecole organizes the LIBSCO conference to inspire new ideas and actions in favor of the success and development of children. Visit www.libsco.fr for more information.
- GHEX is a global network with the mission to connect civil society organization leaders, policy makers and researchers interested in the subject of home education. Learn more at www.ghex.world.