CRC/C/MKD/CO/2 6. Education, leisure and cultural activities (arts. 28, 29 and 31 of the Convention) Education, including vocational training and guidance 65. The Committee notes that the right to education of all nationals and resident stateless children is guaranteed by law, that efforts have been made to improve the quality of education, and that the State party plans to introduce conditional cash transfers with a view to encouraging enrolment and attendance in secondary schools. The Committee is, nevertheless, concerned that: (a) There exist barriers to accessing education for children lacking birth registration and identity documents, children with disabilities and children in street situations; (b) There is an increasing trend of separation along ethnic lines in schools, which has resulted in disparities in the quality of education and limited opportunities for children belonging to the different communities to interact with one another and in the intensification of inter-ethnic violence; (c) The primary-level enrolment and completion rates remain low for Roma children, particularly girls, and Roma children experience segregation and discriminatory treatment in schools; (d) Roma children are allegedly overrepresented in schools for children with special needs and the decision to refer children to such schools is not done by interdisciplinary teams and based on objective criteria; (e) There is low availability of holistic early childhood development and education, facilities and institutions; and (f) Religious education may be a factor of division and conflict among children in school and does not sufficiently contribute to a spirit of understanding, tolerance and friendship among all ethnic and religious groups as stipulated in article 29, paragraph 1 (d), of the Convention. 66. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Undertake immediate measures to ensure that children are not denied access to education on any grounds; (b) Develop specialized services to prepare children in street situations for reintegration into the school system; (c) Work with the communities to encourage the enrolment of children in ethnically mixed schools and provide in practice possibilities for children from the different communities to study together in a manner that allows everyday interaction and possibilities to learn about one another. The State party should undertake immediate measures to reverse the current trend of segregation along ethnic lines at all levels – national, regional and municipal; (d) Taking into account its general comment No. 1 (2001) on the aims of education (CRC/GC/2001/1) and article 29, paragraph 1, of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party invest in the training of teachers, in the development of curricula, textbooks and other aides for the active promotion of understanding, peace, tolerance and multicultural solidarity and cohesion among the different ethnic and religious communities; 14