CRC/C/15/Add.154 page 10 Adolescent health 44. The Committee expresses its concern regarding the high rates of early pregnancy, the rise in the number of children and youths using drugs, the increase in cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), in particular syphilis, and the growing number of cases of HIV/AIDS among youths. Further, it notes the limited availability of programmes and services in the area of adolescent health, including mental health, and the lack of sufficient prevention and information programmes in schools, especially on reproductive health. 45. The Committee recommends that the State party increase its efforts to promote adolescent health policies, including mental health, particularly with respect to reproductive health and substance abuse, and strengthen the programme of health education in schools. The Committee further suggests that a comprehensive and multidisciplinary study be undertaken to understand the scope of adolescent health problems, including the negative impact of STDs and HIV/AIDS, in order to be able to develop adequate policies and programmes. It is also recommended that the State party undertake further measures, including the allocation of adequate human and financial resources, to evaluate the effectiveness of training programmes in health education, in particular as regards reproductive health, and to develop youth-sensitive and confidential counselling, care and rehabilitation facilities that are accessible without parental consent when this is in the best interests of the child. The Committee encourages the State party to seek additional technical cooperation from, among others, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO and UNAIDS. 7. Education, leisure and cultural activities Education 46. While noting with appreciation the number of national efforts undertaken to extend the coverage and improve the quality of the school system, particularly at the pre-school and primary levels and with special attention paid to girls, the Committee is nevertheless concerned about the high repetition and drop-out rates, the high pupil-teacher ratio and the high incidence of absenteeism, truancy and over-age pupils. Further, it notes with concern that bilingual education is offered only in a limited number of indigenous languages and only at pre-school level and in the first three grades of primary schooling. 47. In light of articles 28 and 29 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party undertake appropriate measures to increase budgetary allocations for education, ensure regular attendance at schools and the reduction of drop-out rates, and strengthen the quality of education in order to achieve the goals stated in article 29.1, in line with the Committee’s General Comment No. 1 on the aims of education (CRC/C/GC/2001/1). It also reiterates its recommendation (ibid., para. 37) that the State party should continue to strengthen the teacher training programme in order to increase the number of trained teachers and improve the quality of teaching and the bilingual education programme. In this respect, the Committee encourages the State party to seek additional technical cooperation from, among others, UNESCO and UNICEF.