CRC/C/15/Add.111
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society. The Committee recommends that the State party seek technical cooperation for
the training of persons working with and for children with disabilities from, inter alia,
UNICEF and the WHO.
20.
The Committee expresses its concern regarding the limited availability of programmes
and services and the lack of adequate data in the area of adolescent health, including accidents,
suicide, violence and abortions. The Committee is particularly concerned at the high and
increasing incidence of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as well as
the prevalence of the use of alcohol and tobacco among youth. The Committee recommends
that the State party increase its efforts to promote adolescent health policies, particularly
with respect to accidents, suicide, violence, alcohol consumption and tobacco use. The
Committee further suggests that a comprehensive and multidisciplinary study be
undertaken on adolescent health problems, including the negative impact of early
pregnancy and STDs. Additionally, it is also recommended that the State party undertake
further measures, including the allocation of adequate human and financial resources, to
develop youth-friendly counselling, care and rehabilitation facilities that would be
accessible, without parental consent, in the best interests of the child. The State party is
urged to strengthen reproductive health education programmes for adolescents and to
ensure the inclusion of men in all training programmes on reproductive health.
D.7.
Education, leisure and cultural activities
21.
The Committee notes the importance of the role of traditional education, particularly in
remote island communities. The Committee expresses grave concern that primary education is
still not compulsory and free to all children in the State party. Further, the Committee is
concerned about the limited access to education, the low rate of enrolment of girls, the low
literacy rate, the poor quality of education, the general lack of relevant learning material and
other resources, and the insufficient numbers of trained/qualified teachers. There is a concern
that efforts have not been made to introduce local languages into the education curricula. Many
parents continue to see education as having a negative impact on the behaviour of children. In
the light of article 28.1 (a), it is strongly recommended that the State party undertake,
within two years, to elaborate, adopt and submit to the Committee a detailed plan of action
for the progressive implementation, within a reasonable number of years, of compulsory
education free of charge for all. The Committee further recommends that the State party
undertake a study of the educational system with a view to improving access to education
at all levels of the system, increasing the enrolment rate of girls, particularly at the
secondary level, introducing local languages as additional tools of instruction, and
improving the overall quality of education. The Committee also recommends that a public
education campaign be undertaken to promote the importance of education and to
influence cultural attitudes positively in this regard. It is recommended that the State
party seek technical cooperation from, inter alia, UNICEF and UNESCO.
D. 8.
Special protection measures
22.
The Committee is concerned at the insufficient data on child labour and economic
exploitation of children. Given the limited access to secondary education and the resulting