Ei-iE

On International Students’ Day, 17th November 2014, more than 80 student organisations from all over the world stand up for free education.

This day commemorates past student struggles, notably the supression of a demonstration in Prague held by students of the Medical Faculty of Charles University in 1939, which resulted in the death of student Jan Opletal. On November 15, 1939, his funeral procession was attended by thousands of fellow students, who turned this event to an anti-Nazi demonstration.

The commemoration of this day also draws attention to current challenges faced by students. In 2014, as policy makers around the world gather to set a global education framework in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, the three organising associations are taking action to assert the common student interest. These organisations are the European Students' Union (ESU), representing 47 national student unions from 39 European countries; the Organising Bureau of European School Students Unions (OBESSU), representing 24 national school student unions from 19 European countries; and the Commonwealth Students' Association (CSA), representing students in the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. The 2014 declaration contains one key message: education is a right. In order to guarantee the educational, civic and social rights of students and citizens, the text poses one clear demand: free education. "Free of costs and fees, free of discrimination and free of fear". You can sign this year's call by visiting http://is.gd/3MQ2pF