their children to pre-schools and schools and a lack of willingness by children to attend classes; Monitoring school attainments, including absenteeism and drop-out rates, literacy, completion of studies, grades, gender disparities, access to higher educational levels and subsequently access to employment. In some cases, preparatory classes and class or individual assistants/mediators/advisors may be necessary for pupils from disadvantaged environments. Adult education is a necessary complement to the basic education system. 2.2 Article 13 of the Framework Convention ‘13(1) Within the framework of their education systems, the Parties shall recognise that persons belonging to a national minority have the right to set up and to manage their own private educational and training establishments. 13(2) The exercise of this right shall not entail any financial obligation for the Parties. ‘ 2.2.1 Explanatory report ‘72. The Parties’ obligation to recognise the right of persons belonging to national minorities to set up and manage their own private educational and training establishments is subject to the requirements of their educational system, particularly the regulations relating to compulsory schooling. The establishments covered by this paragraph may be subject to the same forms of supervision as other establishments, particularly with regard to teaching standards. Once the required standards are met, it is important that any qualifications awarded are officially recognised. The relevant national legislation must be based on objective criteria and conform to the principle of non-discrimination. 73. The exercise of the right referred to in paragraph 1 does not entail any financial obligation for the Party concerned, but neither does it exclude the possibility of such a contribution.’ 2.2.2 Main Issues In most of its Opinions, the Advisory Committee has considered that the implementation of Article 13 does not give rise to any specific observations. In many cases this results from the fact that the national minorities concerned do not have the financial means to establish their own educational institutions. The Explanatory Report provides that all educational establishments, public as well as private, are subject to the requirements of each State's educational system. States Parties can therefore implement the Framework Convention by incorporating the education provisions of the Framework Convention as elements of their own educational systems. More extensive comments were provided by the Advisory Committee in a few cases, including the Opinions on Austria, Germany and Switzerland. With regard to Austria, the Advisory Committee discussed the public funding of Czech and Slovak bilingual education in the Komensky School in Vienna and recommended more subsidies to private schools offering education to Hungarians and Croats. With regard to the Komensky School the Advisory Committee said: ‘The Advisory Committee welcomes the fact that the Austrian authorities cover the costs of the teaching staff at the Komensky school on a contractual basis, although the Private School Act does not place them under any obligation to do so. Nonetheless, the Czech and Slovak minorities have drawn the Advisory Committee's attention to the growing difficulties that they have in covering the ordinary operating costs of the school on their own. The Advisory Committee therefore urges the Austrian authorities to continue 22