A/HRC/13/23/Add.1 separate subjects in 126 general education schools; 76 general education schools provide optional language subjects or “study circles” in languages including German, Korean, Tartar, Polish and Ukrainian.13 44. The Government points out that the right to study native languages is realized by involving cultural associations in the implementation of the State’s language policy. A total of 79 Sunday schools established by national and cultural unions for children and adults receive support from the Ministry of Education and regional budgets for the teaching of native languages, including German, Korean, Hebrew, Tartar and Polish. Three “national revival” schools have also been established. There are plans for Sunday schools to provide courses in Kazakh. Members of over 80 nationalities are enrolled in institutes of higher education. At the Abaya National Teacher Training University, courses are taught in Uighur, Turkish, Azerbaijani, Korean, Chinese and German. 45. Every ethnic group residing in Kazakhstan has a right to establish national and cultural centres to promote the development of their language, culture and traditions. Cultural centres, supported by the Government, have been established in all regions to promote the ethnic identity of different nationalities. Members of the Assembly of the People are commonly chosen on the basis of their participation in ethnic cultural centres. In addition, there are Uighur, German and Korean theatres, the only examples in the former Soviet States. The independent expert visited Cossack, Russian, Ukrainian and Uighur cultural centres. Members demonstrated their activities, including in the preservation of music, culture and arts, and expressed their satisfaction with Government support. 46. Issues relating to language emerged as a considerable priority for minorities in their consultations with the independent expert. They stated that the number of minority language schools and schools with a mixed minority and Kazakh or Russian language education is reportedly decreasing as the number of Kazakh schools increases. They suggest a worrying negative trend away from the provision of education in minority languages that is concurrent with amendments to national legislation and a policy to promote the learning of Kazakh, Russian and English. 47. Civil society representatives note that previous legislation on education enacted in 1999, such as the Law on Education, article 5, paragraph 3, included an explicit requirement that the State shall create conditions for national groups to learn their native language and may set up institutions or departments in the places inhabited by significant minority groups to meet their education needs. However, provisions in the new Law on Education (art. 9, para. 3) adopted in July 2007 are weaker, requiring only that the right to education in one’s native language is provided by setting up, if circumstances permit, the corresponding educational institutions. 48. Spokespersons of minority communities expressed concern that greater attention and resources should be given to developing and maintaining the system of minority schools. A decline in teaching standards, even with respect to the teaching of Kazakh and Russian languages in minority schools, and a shortage of adequately qualified teaching staff are increasingly problematic. Parents often regard minority schools as inferior educational alternatives that impede their children’s competitiveness for university entrance and employment. This has resulted in a marked decline in students attending minority schools. 49. School teaching materials in mainstream and minority language schools do not adequately reflect the history, cultures and contributions of minorities or the multi-ethnic nature of Kazakh society. According to one commentator, “We have brought up a whole generation since independence who know nothing about minorities, just about Kazakhs and Russians.” There is frustration that the State has not produced a new generation of textbooks to address this issue. The supply of textbooks is also a pressing concern, owing to GE.10-10602 13