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Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Comoros (RATIFICATION: 2004)

The Committee notes with concern that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments.

Repetition

Article 2(3) of the Convention. Compulsory schooling and application of the Convention in practice. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that child labour was a visible phenomenon in the country, particularly as a result of poverty and of the low school enrolment rate in some cases. In this regard, the Committee noted that the capacity of schools was very limited and that some primary and secondary schools were obliged to refuse to enrol certain children of school age. Consequently, a large number of children, particularly from poor families and disadvantaged backgrounds, were deprived of an education.

The Committee noted the Government’s indication that there had been a positive trend towards gender parity in school, standing at 0.87 at primary level. However, it was less satisfactory at secondary level, where the numbers of girls in school had fallen significantly. According to the Government, particular problems in the educational situation for girls involved late enrolment, a very high repetition rate – around 30 per cent in primary school and 23 per cent in secondary school – and a high drop-out rate, with only 32 per cent of pupils completing primary education.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement in its report that it is taking steps to reduce the disparity in school enrolment rates for girls and boys. The Government indicates that the school mapping system is being revised by the Ministry of Education, in conjunction with the education offices and UNICEF, with a view to boosting educational coverage and ensuring better access to education for children living in rural areas. Moreover, the Committee notes that a UNICEF country programme has been adopted for 2015–19, which aims, among other things, to support the Government’s efforts to enhance children’s right to education. One of the main objectives of the programme is to ensure that all children are enrolled in and complete inclusive, high-quality education, with the focus on equity and achievement.

However, the Committee notes that section 2 of Framework Act No. 94/035/AF of 20 December 1994 provides that schooling is only compulsory from 6 to 12 years of age, which is three years earlier than the minimum age for admission to employment or work, namely 15 years. Referring to the General Survey of 2012 on the fundamental Conventions, the Committee observes that if compulsory schooling comes to an end before children are legally entitled to work, a vacuum may arise which regrettably opens the door for the economic exploitation of children (paragraph 371). The Committee therefore considers it desirable to raise the age of completion of compulsory schooling so that it coincides with the minimum age for admission to employment or work, as provided for in Paragraph 4 of the Minimum Age Recommendation, 1973 (No. 146).Recalling that compulsory education is one of the most effective means of combating child labour, the Committee strongly encourages the Government to take the necessary steps to make education compulsory until the minimum age for admission to employment, namely 15 years. Moreover, the Committee requests that the Government intensify its efforts to increase the school attendance rate and reduce the school drop-out rate, especially among girls, in order to prevent children under 15 years of age from working. The Committee requests that the Government provide information on the results achieved in this respect.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.