HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Forum on Minority Issues Geneva, 15-16 December 2008 Mr. Manpreet Singh 2008 OHCHR Minority Fellow Dashmesh Seva Dal B-40, Jhilmil Colony, Delhi, India Email: manpreet.singh@email.com Intervention for item III of the provisional agenda Essential Requirements for an Effective Education Strategy My name is Manpreet Singh and I am speaking on behalf of Dashmesh Seva Dal, an NGO which is working for Sikh Minorities in India, and also in my capacity as a 2008 OHCHR Minority Fellow. We would like to thank all of the member’s states representatives and experts, present in the Minority Forum for giving us opportunity to share our views with respect to the forum theme – “Minorities and Right to Education”. Education is vital to the development of minorities in a number of ways and is one of the most important vehicles by which the integration of minorities into mainstream society can be promoted. It aids everyone’s psychosocial development and is necessary for their future opportunities. Additionally, it helps reduce specifically the minority’s risks and vulnerabilities. Since minorities all over the world are faced with infringements of fundamental human rights, there are some essential requirements which we can use in providing effective educational services to children from minority groups.      Firstly, to abolish the practice of race-based segregation of minority children in education, including special remedial classes for mentally disabled and other separate, substandard educational arrangements. This can be followed up by implementing a comprehensive school desegregation plan, so that all minority children may fully realise their right to education. Strengthen anti-discrimination and anti-bias measures, including in both legislation and social policies, to reduce discrimination against minorities in all spheres and improve public perception. Data should be properly collected by the commissions with reference to enrollment and drop-out rates in schools pertaining to minorities’ children and appropriate measures should be taken to overcome this problem, with the involvement of active NGOs. Integrating all minority students into mainstream classes, and, when necessary, design and implement adequate budgetary allocations and fellowship programs. Responsible authorities should develop a clear and coherent national education policy and strategy to ensure that students have access to studying their mother tongue (if not as first language than at least as a second language in practice),