A/68/333 poverty of the groups that are discriminated against can thus be perceived as a result of the continued denial of their fundamental rights based on racial, ethnic and social factors. 1. The right to education 26. One of the reasons why groups that are discriminated against remain trapped in poverty is the perpetual marginalization they suffer in terms of access to education, despite the obligation of States to realize this right for all without discrimination. Realizing the right to education for all children should be the cornerstone of strategies directed at reducing poverty and discouraging discrimination. 27. Minority Rights Group International noted in 2009 that, of the 101 million children out of school and the 776 million illiterate adults, the majority are part of racial, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities. 19 The obstacles are first related to access to schools. In many countries, the low enrolment rate of minority children is the result of official policies that fail to recognize the existence of minorities as part of the whole population and to take measures to ensure that they enjoy the rights guaranteed to every citizen. 20 28. Within the school system, children from racial and ethnic minorities in many cases also suffer from direct discrimination, either on the part of teachers or their fellow pupils in mixed classes, or indirect discrimination due to the low quality of teaching, particularly in remote or disadvantaged areas where these groups live. In many of those areas, teachers are often less qualified, and the official curriculum frequently does not take into account the specificity of the minority groups and their participation in the history and development of their country. 29. The Special Rapporteur notes that, as a result of such discrimination, there is a lack of trust in the national educational system and some children tend to remain within their community rather than attend school and acquire skills that could eventually enable them to break the cycle of poverty. Low school enrolment rates ultimately fuel illiteracy, and hinder these children’s future prospects in integrating the labour market to improve their economic situation. 30. The Special Rapporteur is also of the view that if discrimination in education reinforces poverty, poverty also fosters discrimination. 21 Poverty is one of the causes of the low enrolment rates in schools of children from groups that are discriminated against. Even where basic education is free, accessing the public education system often implies having to meet the burden of hidden and indirect costs such as expenditures for textbooks, transportation, meals or school uniforms. 22 31. When discriminated groups or vulnerable communities are not able to achieve acceptable standards of living owing to racial or other inequalities, they also become victims of further discrimination. 23 Many children from poor rural communities __________________ 19 20 21 22 23 13-43133 Minority Rights Group International, State of the World’s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2009, p. 13. Ibid., p. 15. See final draft of the guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights, submitted by the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights (A/HRC/21/39), para. 4. Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to education (E/CN.4/2004/45), para. 26. Final draft of the guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights (A/HRC/21/39), para. 3. 9/22