CRC/C/BTN/CO/2 page 13 (d) Take effective measures to counter stigma and discrimination faced by children and families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. 7. Education, leisure and cultural activities (arts. 28, 29 and 31 of the Convention) Education, including vocational training and guidance 60. The Committee welcomes that the Constitution guarantees free education to all children of school age up to class ten. The Committee also notes achievements in education indicators, such as the decrease of the gender gap, and the planned construction of primary and community schools. However, the Committee is concerned that informal fees are still charged in schools, that additional costs have not been waived for all parents and that education has not been made compulsory. The Committee is furthermore concerned that a remarkable number of children are not enrolled, that regional disparities persist, that repetition and dropout rates are still high and that gender parity has yet to be still achieved. The Committee is also concerned that early childhood care and education as well as vocational training are not yet expanded to the extent needed. 61. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Ensure that primary education is compulsory and free of all costs and accessible in an equitable manner for all children; (b) Strengthen efforts to achieve enrolment of all children in school and completion of primary education with a view to expand secondary education by, inter alia, building new schools and providing better equipment of all schools; (c) Improve the quality of education by adapting curricula to new developments and introducing interactive teaching and learning methods; (d) Provide more early education facilities and vocational training centres accessible in all regions of the country; (e) Give children who have left school before graduation or never attended school non-formal opportunities to begin or complete their education; (f) Seek technical assistance from UNICEF and UNESCO in this regard. Education of children of Nepalese ethnic origin 62. The Committee, while noting as positive the planned re-opening of schools in south Bhutan and the abolishment of the “no objection certificate” announced by the State party during the dialogue, is still concerned about the prevailing discrimination in the field of education against children of Nepalese ethnic origin. The Committee notes with concern that these children have reduced access to education due to the lack of educational institutions at all levels and that they are denied education in their own language. The Committee is concerned about the lack of data on children of Nepalese ethnic origin attending school.