CRC/C/15/Add.124 page 11 7. Education, leisure and cultural activities Right to and aims of education 52. While the Committee notes that the Constitution provides for the right to education and that the 1997 Education Act was adopted with a view to improving the situation of education in the State party, it remains concerned at the situation of education, particularly of children in conflict zones and the mountainous regions. In this connection, the Committee expresses concern at the impact of the economic situation on the educational system as well as the decline in enrolment and attendance rates, particularly at the secondary level; the poor infrastructure, including inadequate heating, classrooms and other facilities for instruction; the limited availability of learning materials; insufficient resources, both human and financial; and inadequate instruction in local languages. The Committee also notes with concern that the current economic conditions in the State party and the increasing cost of childcare services have led to a significant decline in the enrolment of children in pre-school. 53. The Committee recommends that the State party take all appropriate measures, including the allocation of adequate financial, human and technical resources, to improve the situation of education and ensure that all children enjoy the right to education. The Committee further recommends that the State party seek to implement additional measures to encourage children to stay in school, particularly during the period of compulsory education, and to facilitate pre-school education. The Committee encourages the State party to take all appropriate measures to improve the quality of teaching, to develop child-friendly schools, and to facilitate the introduction of traditional languages into the school curricula. It is recommended that the State party seek to strengthen its educational system through closer cooperation with UNICEF and UNESCO. 8. Special protection measures Refugee, asylum-seeking and internally displaced children 54. The Committee notes that despite limited resources, Georgia has received some 5,000 Chechnyans, mainly women, children and elderly people. The Committee notes that the State party has enacted the Refugees Act; however, it is concerned that insufficient efforts have been made to establish a special refugee status determination procedure for unaccompanied minors. Concern is also expressed at the absence of specific regulations regarding family reunification. 55. The Committee recommends that the State party take all appropriate measures to protect the rights of refugee, asylum-seeking and unaccompanied children and facilitate their access to adequate housing, education, health and other social services. In this regard, the State party should consider the adoption of legislation on asylum-seekers. Additionally, it is recommended that the State party take measures to facilitate family reunification and to establish an efficient refugee status determination procedure for unaccompanied minors. The Committee further recommends that the State party undertake a study on refugee, asylum-seeking and unaccompanied children to ascertain the

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