responsibility

Education International insists that education is a human right and a public good, and it is the responsibility of all governments to provide all women and men, boys and girls, free quality public education. In recent years,  has expressed concerns that proposals for a significant increase in the scope of trade liberalisation might see education services covered by commercial trade agreements.  has actively lobbied to have education services excluded from the scope of the General Agreement on Trade in Services .

The General Agreement on Trade in Services, is one of several agreements adopted in as part of the then established World Trade Organization . The  is a multilateral agreement that defines restrictions on a broad range of government measures that affect the trade in services. There are compelling reasons to be concerned that the poses serious threats to vital public interest regulations, including those governing education.

Knowledge and intellectual property, provided through education, should likewise be available for free to all. More and more countries find it increasingly difficult to obtain copyright clearance and pay royalties for materials needed by teachers and students.  therefore expresses similar concerns over trade in intellectual property, regulated through the Streaty.