CRC/C/15/Add.216 page 9 7. Education, leisure and cultural activities 43. The Committee welcomes the development of bilingual education for Maori; however, it notes with concern the persistent disparities in enrolment and dropout rates among children of different ethnic groups. The Committee is also concerned that the policy on exclusions, as well as increasing hidden costs of education are limiting access to education, particularly for Maori children, pregnant girls, children with special educational needs, lower-income families, non-citizens and new immigrants. 44. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) education; Ensure that all children in the State party have access to free primary (b) Enforce legislation on compulsory education and prohibit exclusions on arbitrary grounds such as pregnancy, and ensure that students of the age of compulsory education who have legitimately been excluded from a school are enrolled elsewhere; (c) Take effective measures to address disparities in enrolment and dropout rates between ethnic groups, including by strengthening programmes for bilingual education; (d) Take all necessary measures, including the provision of quality counselling programmes in schools, to address behavioural problems of students while respecting their right to privacy. 8. Special protection measures Refugee children 45. The Committee takes note of the services provided by the State party to ensure the integration of and equal opportunities for refugee children; however, it is concerned that activities undertaken in this regard may not be entirely effective in achieving the stated objective of integration. 46. The Committee recommends that the State party continue its efforts to integrate refugee children into society and undertake an evaluation of current programmes, in particular language training, with a view to improving their effectiveness. Economic exploitation of children 47. The Committee is concerned that the protection of persons under 18 in employment does not fully conform to the principles and provisions of the Convention, and it reiterates its concern (see para. 20 above) about the lack of a minimum age of admission to employment. 48. The Committee recommends that the State party expedite the ongoing process of reviewing and strengthening legislation protecting all persons under the age of 18 who are employed, and encourages the State party to ratify ILO Convention No. 138.