CRC/C/NIC/CO/4 (b) Dropout rates are high and budget allocation is insufficient to cover the reconstruction of a well-equipped school infrastructure and the expansion needed to bring all children to school and ensure they stay longer; (c) Quality of the curricula is low and teacher training is inadequate; (d) Violence and discrimination is ongoing in schools; (e) Facilities for early childhood education and vocational education and training are not provided to the necessary extent; and (f) 71. Almost half of all adolescents are not in the school system. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Increase budget allocations in order to rehabilitate and expand the education system at all levels, so as to ensure that all children have access to wellequipped schools, and that teachers are adequately trained and paid; (b) Take measures to reduce and eliminate the dropout rate and encourage more children to stay in the education system beyond compulsory schooling; (c) Implement the Intercultural Bilingual Education policy; (d) Continue and enforce the revision of curricula, improve teacher training, introduce interactive forms of learning, and provide a child-friendly environment in schools; (e) Expand early childhood development programmes and facilities and, in particular, ensure access by disadvantaged and poor children in need of developmental and educational incentives; (f) Close the gap between the end of compulsory schooling and the minimum age for employment by extending compulsory education and establishing vocational training to prepare adolescents for skilled work; (g) Extend human and child rights education to all levels of the education system; and (h) Take into account the Committee's general comment No. 1 (2001) on the aims of education. 8. Special protection measures (arts. 22, 30, 38, 39, 40, 37 (b)-(d), 32-36 of the Convention) Economic exploitation including child labour 72. The Committee is concerned at the high number of children who are working, which is likely to increase given the effects of the financial crisis, and the fact that a high proportion of them work in the informal sector, including activities defined as the worst forms of child labour. 73. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Provide the required financial and technical support to implement its new Strategic Plan for the Eradication of Child Labour 2007-2012, including sensitizing the general population, employers and parents about the harmful effects of child labour, and addressing the reasons behind this practice, including poverty; (b) Apply the new regulations of the Labour Code regarding domestic labour, and enhance inspection in this regard; and 15