CERD/C/MKD/CO/7 page 4 give effect to the new Law on Labour Relations with regard to the various ethnic groups living in its territory. 16. While acknowledging the efforts undertaken by the State party under the Roma Strategy and Decade to improve the situation of Roma living in informal settlements, the Committee remains concerned about the housing situation of Roma, especially with regard to the lack of basic infrastructure and to their right to security of tenure (article 5 (e) (iii) of the Convention). The Committee recommends that the State party intensify its efforts in implementing the National Action Plan and the Operational Plan on Housing. In particular, the Committee encourages the State party to finalize as a matter of priority the adoption of the law on legalization, the development and implementation of urban plans and the construction of new apartment blocks for social housing in Šuto Orizari. The Committee urges the State party to ensure that appropriate funds be allocated for the realization of these projects. The Committee further urges the State party to ensure that Roma representatives and non-governmental organizations continue to be involved in the design and implementation of strategies and policies directly affecting them. 17. The Committee notes with concern that despite the efforts made by the State party to increase the participation of ethnic Albanian and Turkish pupils in the secondary and higher levels of education, the drop-out rate from the school system of children belonging to these communities remains high (article 5 (e) (v) of the Convention). The Committee recommends that the State party intensify its efforts to reduce the high drop-out rate in the secondary and higher levels of education among ethnic Albanian and Turkish children. In this regard, the Committee encourages the State party to improve the quality of teaching in Albanian and Turkish schools, inter alia by ensuring the availability of textbooks in minority languages and adequate training of teachers instructing in these languages. In order to facilitate access to higher education, the Committee further recommends that the State party take steps to ensure that ethnic Albanian and Turkish children have access to Macedonian language classes. 18. While acknowledging the efforts undertaken by the State party under the Roma Strategy and Decade to improve the access to education of Roma children, the Committee remains concerned about the low attendance and high drop-out rate of Roma children from primary school (article 5 (e) (v) of the Convention). The Committee recommends that the State party intensify its efforts to increase the levels of education of members of Roma communities, inter alia by: (a) Taking immediate steps to eliminate negative prejudices and stereotypes regarding Roma and their contribution to society; (b) Providing financial assistance to assist poorer families in covering the costs associated with education;

Select target paragraph3