A/HRC/40/CRP.1 been deployed to assess the needs of children in Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia to identify gaps in the current system. This focus and prioritization appears to be showing success. As of June 2018, 82 percent of unaccompanied and separated refugee children had been placed in appropriate interim or long-term alternative care.758 Nonetheless, approaches and success have varied across host countries. For example, as of June 2018, only 21 and 50 percent of identified unaccompanied and separated refugee children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Central African Republic, respectively, had received appropriate assistance759 whereas 73, 80 and 88 percent were placed in alternative kinship or foster care in Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya, respectively.760 The challenges which remain include providing alternative care to adolescents and the limited opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and self-reliance for caregivers.761 A further challenge in reuniting refugee children with their parents still in South Sudan is that it is currently only possible to reunite them by bringing the children back to South Sudan, rather than taking the parents out of the country. This is an option that many parents decline. 762 4. The Right to Education South Sudan has the highest proportion of children out of school in the world.763 However, even for those South Sudanese children lucky enough to attend school or use other educational opportunities, there remain significant challenges relating to the quality of education and the opportunities upon completion. Among the chief issues underlying access to education in South Sudan and its quality are the ongoing conflict and the resultant insecurity, economic constraints on resources dedicated to education, and cultural considerations. These complex and inter-connected factors intersect and result in school closures due to insecurity, displaced populations, an increase in early marriage and child labour driven by economic pressures and undervaluation of education. Furthermore, funding is directed toward the security expenditures rather than education, and a shrinking economy and high inflation make school fees unaffordable for many students. South Sudan has relevant legislation including provisions in the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan of 2011, the Child Act (2008), and the General Education Act (2012). The Government has developed a National General Education Policy 2017-2027 and a General Education Strategic Plan, 2017-2022. It has further developed some specialised programmes to address some of the specific challenges facing children in attending school, including a National School Feeding Programme and a National Inclusive Education Policy, which include programmes aimed at getting particular groups of children into school, including girls, overaged children, and pastoralist children. However, there remain challenges facing the implementation of these programmes. One of the main challenges facing the education system is that it is severely under resourced. Between 2012/2013 and 2017/2018, the general education budget remained below five percent of the national budget.764 This is far below the recommended 15 to 20 percent of total public expenditure which should be directed to education according to international instruments such as the Incheon Declaration. 765 The 2018/2019 budget has brought a welcome increase in the education budget, boosting it to almost 10 percent of the national budget (including higher education).766 However, when compared to the security budget 758 UNHCR, South Sudan Regional RRP 2018 Mid-Year Report, June 2018. UNHCR, Democratic Republic of the Congo: 2018 Mid-Year Report South Sudan Regional RRP, January to June 2018; UNHCR, Central African Republic: 2018 Mid-Year Report South Sudan Regional RRP, January to June 2018. 760 UNHCR, Sudan: 2018 Mid-Year Report South Sudan Regional RRP, January to June 2018; UNHCR, Ethiopia: 2018 Mid-Year Report South Sudan Regional RRP, January to June 2018; UNHCR, Kenya: 2018 Mid-Year Report South Sudan Regional RRP, January to June 2018. 761 UNHCR, South Sudan Situation: Regional Framework for the Protection of Refugee Children, February 2018-December 2019. 762 Confidential Meeting, Juba, 17 October 2018. 763 Global Initiative on Out of School Children, South Sudan Country Study, May 2018. 764 Global Initiative on Out of School Children, South Sudan Country Study, May 2018. 765 Global Initiative on Out of School Children, South Sudan Country Study, May 2018. 766 Republic of South Sudan, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Approved Budget 2018/2019. 759 105