E/C.12/VNM/CO/2-4 The Committee refers the State party to its general comment No. 15 (2002) on the right to water and its statement on the right to sanitation, adopted on 19 November 2010. Education for disadvantaged and marginalized groups 32. The Committee notes with concern that access to and the quality of education remains limited in remote and mountainous areas and islands where ethnic minorities live, in spite of the notable achievements in education elsewhere in the State party (art. 15). The Committee recommends that the State party develop a comprehensive framework and allocate sufficient resources for the provision of quality education for ethnic minority children and children living in remote areas. In that regard, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Adequately plan educational personnel needs; (b) Increase investment in early education for those children; (c) Improve the system for tracking children dropouts and their reintegration in school; (d) Implement mother tongue-based bilingual education approaches; (e) Strengthen the decentralized management of education. Self-identification 33. The Committee expresses concern at the non-recognition of indigenous peoples in the State party, which has a negative impact on their enjoyment of cultural rights (art. 15). Recalling that self-identification is a fundamental principle of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Committee recommends that the State party respect the right of everyone, alone or in association with others or as a community, to choose his or her identity, including the right to identify as belonging to an indigenous people. It also recommends that the State party adopt a statutory law governing the recognition of ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples and guaranteeing their rights. The Committee invites the State party to ratify ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169). Cultural rights of ethnic minorities 34. The Committee expresses concern at the State party’s policy of phasing out certain traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities which it considers “obsolete”, and attempting to replace them with new cultural policies premised on objectives of socio-economic stability and development. Moreover, the Committee is concerned at the adverse impact of commercial tourism on the cultural activities of ethnic minorities, such as the Bay Nui bull race and the Dragon Boat race (art. 15). The Committee urges the State party to refrain from submitting cultural policies to development objectives and to fully respect the right of ethnic minorities to take part in their cultural activities and to conserve, promote and develop their own culture. Limitations to this right should be restricted to negative practices which infringe upon other human rights. Moreover, the Committee recommends that the State party ensure that ethnic minorities are fully involved in decision-making processes regarding the economic exploitation of their cultural heritage and that they obtain tangible benefits from these activities. In that regard, the Committee draws the State party’s attention to its general comment No. 21 (2009) on the right of everyone to take part in cultural life. 10