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concerned to address their specific needs. Furthermore, governments should recognize the right
of indigenous peoples to establish their own educational institutions and facilities, provided that
such institutions meet minimum standards established by the competent authority in consultation
with these peoples.27 States should undertake all reasonable efforts to ensure that indigenous
communities are aware of the value and importance of education and of the significance of
community support for school enrolment.
61. States parties should ensure that school facilities are easily accessible where indigenous
children live. If required, States parties should support the use of media, such as radio broadcasts
and long distance education programmes (internet-based) for educational purposes and establish
mobile schools for indigenous peoples who practice nomadic traditions. The school cycle should
take into account and seek to adjust to cultural practices as well as agricultural seasons and
ceremonial periods. States parties should only establish boarding schools away from indigenous
communities when necessary as this may be a disincentive for the enrolment of indigenous
children, especially girls. Boarding schools should comply with culturally sensitive standards
and be monitored on a regular basis. Attempts should also be made to ensure that indigenous
children living outside their communities have access to education in a manner which respects
their culture, languages and traditions.
62. Article 30 of the Convention establishes the right of the indigenous child to use his or her
own language. In order to implement this right, education in the child’s own language is
essential. Article 28 of ILO Convention No. 169 affirms that indigenous children shall be taught
to read and write in their own language besides being accorded the opportunity to attain fluency
in the official languages of the country.28 Bilingual and intercultural curricula are important
criteria for the education of indigenous children. Teachers of indigenous children should to the
extent possible be recruited from within indigenous communities and given adequate support and
training.
63. With reference to article 31 of the Convention, the Committee notes the many positive
benefits of participation in sports, traditional games, physical education, and recreational
activities and calls on States parties to ensure that indigenous children enjoy the effective
exercise of these rights.
Special protection measures
(arts. 22, 30, 38, 39, 40, 37 (b)-(d), 32-36 of the Convention)
Children in armed conflict and refugee children
64. Through its periodic reviews of States parties’ reports, the Committee has concluded that
indigenous children are particularly vulnerable in situations of armed conflict or in situations of
internal unrest. Indigenous communities often reside in areas which are coveted for their natural
27
ILO Convention No. 169, article 27.
28
ILO Convention No. 169, article 28.