CRC/C/15/Add.259
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(f)
Provide indigenous children and children belonging to minority groups
with equal access to quality education which respects their distinct cultural patterns
and uses local indigenous and minority languages in education through, inter alia, the
Lingua Franca Project;
(g)
Continue its efforts to offer more facilities for informal learning and
vocational training, including for children who have not completed primary and
secondary education;
(h)
Continue its efforts to reduce the number of dropouts and increase the
number of children completing secondary education;
(i)
Establish vocational schools that systematically prepare children in school
for the requirements of the labour market and civic responsibilities;
(j)
curricula;
Mainstream human rights, including children’s rights, into the school
(k)
Cooperate with, among others, UNESCO, UNICEF and non-governmental
organizations to improve the education sector;
(l)
Continue to expand pre-service and in-service teacher training.
Leisure, recreation and cultural activities
71.
Notwithstanding the State party’s efforts to develop and organize sports and cultural
activities for children, the Committee notes with concern the insufficient number of recreational
and cultural activities and facilities for children and the discrepancies between barangays in this
respect. The Committee is concerned that there are several groups of children, such as children
not involved in primary education, child labourers and street children, who neither have equal
right to enjoy their right to rest and leisure nor to engage in play, sport, recreational and cultural
activities.
72.
In the light of article 31 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the
State party make all necessary efforts to protect the right of the child to rest, leisure,
cultural and recreational activities. The Committee recommends that the State party
strengthen its efforts to promote the right of the child to engage in play by providing
children with creative play facilities. It requests the allocation of adequate human and
financial resources to the implementation of this right and the payment of particular
attention to vulnerable groups of children, such as children outside of the educational
system, child labourers and street children.
7. Special protection measures
Refugee children
73.
Notwithstanding the fact that the treatment of refugee children and the implementation of
their rights have been viewed in the light of laws generally applicable to Philippine children, the
Committee is concerned about the lack of domestic legislation addressing the specific needs of