CRC/C/KHM/CO/2-3 children, they are often placed in cells without appropriate ventilation, in conditions of extreme heat and not always separated from persons with contagious diseases, such as tuberculosis. The Committee is also concerned that children incarcerated with their mothers have limited access to health services and almost no access to any form of education and recreational activities. The Committee is further seriously concerned about cases of children being physically abused by prison guards and other prisoners. 64. The Committee urges the State party to ensure that the rights of children and their mothers living in prison are respected. The Committee urges the State party to take immediate measures to ensure that mothers and their children are provided with food and health services, and that children have access to education and recreational activities. The Committee also urges the State party to take all necessary measures to protect children from all forms of abuse, to investigate all reports of abuse of children by prison officials and other inmates and to take appropriate disciplinary measures against perpetrators of abuse against children. F. Education, leisure and cultural activities (arts. 28, 29 and 31 of the Convention) Education, including vocational training and guidance 65. The Committee notes with satisfaction the remarkable progress made by the State party to increase primary and secondary school enrolment, ensure equitable access to education throughout the country and reduce the gender gap. The Committee also welcomes the State party’s commitment to implement the Education for All Initiative. However, the Committee expresses concern that education is still not compulsory in the State party, that only 1.9 per cent of GDP is spent on education, and that education expenditure has dropped since 2007. The Committee also expresses concern that: (a) Children with disabilities, those from ethnic minorities and indigenous children remain highly discriminated against in their access to education; (b) School enrolment indicators are particularly low in certain regions, such as in Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri provinces where there is a large minority population; (c) There is still a lack of school infrastructure in the State party, especially facilities such as toilets and drinking water, as well as materials for pupils, particularly in rural areas; (d) Although the State party indicated during the dialogue that the issue of paying additional fees to teachers has been addressed, teacher salaries remain low; the overall level of corruption which exists in the State party, leads to the possibility of teachers taking money to pass pupils taking examinations; (e) Drop-out, absenteeism and repetition rates remain high and are on the increase, with girls being much more affected than boys; (f) A growing number of private schools operate without regular monitoring by the Ministry of Education; (g) The quality of education, appropriateness of curricula and bringing educational services to remote geographical areas remain a challenge; (h) Preschool and other early childhood development opportunities remain largely out of reach for most children, especially those outside of urban areas; (i) Information on vocational education is lacking in the State party’s report. 15