Article 7: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION The Committee notes with satisfaction that the Government of the Republic of The Sudan guarantees for each child the right to express his/her opinion freely and to participate effectively in appropriate judicial, administrative or educational processes, subject to his/her age and level of maturity. It also notes that Sudanese children have participated in several international activities and fora and that children’s parliaments have been established in some states. The Committee recommends to the Government of the Republic of The Sudan to take appropriate steps to establish children’s parliaments in all the states and continue promoting children’s participation in decisions on matters that concern them. Article 11: EDUCATION The Committee notes with satisfaction that the Act prescribes that the State shall provide free and compulsory basic education at primary school and by means of adult education curricula. It notes with concern that the aforementioned provisions are yet to be applied on ground because the report points out that a gap still exists between the legislation and implementation of free education, as evidenced by the high number of school dropouts due to the fees imposed by educational institutions. The Committee is also concerned at the fact that many schools are constrained by lack of teachers, as well as by insufficient classrooms and desks. The Committee recommends to the Government of the Republic of The Sudan to undertake measures to apply the texts regarding free education and also to build and equip schools close to residential areas that are lacking in that regard, with separate potable water and sanitary facilities. Article 13: HANDICAPPED CHILDREN The Committee notes with satisfaction that the Government of the Republic of The Sudan has ratified the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and that a 2009 national Act on the disabled provides for the exemption of disabled persons from school fees with access to professional life in State organs. It notes with concern that the Republic of The Sudan does not have statistical data on the different types of disability and on the number of children with disabilities, to be able to design programmes suited to their needs. 3