A/HRC/38/32/Add.1 all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes. The Ivorian Government has stated its political commitment to providing free, quality education for all in the amended Education Act, the new Constitution of 2016 and the 2016–2020 National Development Plan. B. The right to education and the national legal system 17. As regards the country’s institutional and legislative framework, articles 9 and 10 of the 2016 Constitution explicitly establish the right of all individuals to education and vocational training and the principle of compulsory education for all girls and boys. Furthermore, article 32 of the Constitution affirms that the State undertakes to cater for the specific needs of vulnerable persons and to ensure their access to health services, education, employment, culture, sport and leisure activities. 18. Article 33 establishes that the State is responsible for protecting persons with disabilities from all forms of discrimination and degrading treatment, including by enabling them to exercise their rights with respect to education. 19. Act No. 2015-635 of 17 September 2015, amending Education Act No. 95-696 of 7 September 1995, establishes that education is compulsory for children aged between 6 and 16 years old; this reflects the country’s aim of ensuring that all children complete lower secondary education in order to acquire the skills needed to be able to continue their studies or find employment. 20. The principle of free public education is enshrined in article 2 of Education Act No. 95-696. Failure to comply with this Act, which has been in force since the beginning of the 2015/16 academic year, is punishable by a fine of up to 500,000 CFA francs (CFAF) (around US$ 900) or 2 to 6 months’ imprisonment. IV. The education system in Côte d’Ivoire 21. The education system in Côte d’Ivoire, as in other French-speaking West African countries, is a legacy of French colonialism. It covers the following areas: preschool education, primary education, lower and upper secondary education, technical education and vocational training, and higher education. There are also literacy and non-formal education centres for adolescents who have never attended school or who left school early and for illiterate adults. Lessons are taught in French, although bilingual teaching in various national languages has been tested in some places and clearly has potential. 22. Côte d’Ivoire has made considerable efforts in the field of education over the past few years, with the aim of ensuring universal access to free, compulsory, quality primary education. Overall, 84 per cent of students attend public schools, 14 per cent attend private schools and 2 per cent attend schools run by the community. The Special Rapporteur is pleased to note that the country has stepped up its efforts to improve access to education in an inclusive manner by setting up pilot projects for the inclusion of vulnerable groups such as children from poor families and children with disabilities. As a result, the percentage of children of primary school age who are not enrolled in school has fallen significantly in recent years, from 43.3 per cent in 2009 to 9 per cent in 2017. A. Preschool, primary and secondary education Preschool education 23. Preschool coverage in Côte d’Ivoire remains poor. In 2008, the net preschool enrolment ratio stood at 13 per cent in urban areas and 1 per cent in rural areas. Moreover, 84 per cent of children enrolled in preschools lived in towns and 16 per cent in villages. This limited growth in preschool education has been attributed to: (a) a lack of awareness of GE.18-06824 5