Articles 28 and 29 of the CRC focus on a child’s right to quality education. Some of the key elements of the right to education include: • Entitlement to free and compulsory primary education • Availability of different forms of secondary education • Access to higher education on non-discriminatory terms • Education directed to develop individuals to their fullest potential and to prepare them for responsible life in a free society, including development of respect for others and for human rights • Availability of accessible educational and vocational information • Measures developed by the State to ensure full participation in education Some Pacific children and young people who engaged in the Office of the Children’s Commissioner report What Makes a Good Life? noted a range of factors that affected their wellbeing with regards to education. Some participants identified financial stress as a barrier to a better life for them and their family. The cost of tuition, uniforms and transport to and from school, which in turn may affect parents’ decisions as to their choice of school, were shared as examples of financial worries. cultural life125 which is inherently linked to the rights of minorities to enjoy their own culture under the ICCPR.126 UNESCO defines culture as “the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, that encompasses, not only art and literature, but lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs.”127 In Aotearoa New Zealand, maintenance of language has been seen as the main pathway for communities to uphold cultural wellbeing along with other forms of expression such as song, dance and custom. Language Pacific communities prize their heritage languages as connections to identity, culture and the homelands. As explained at the start of this Talanoa paper, the Pacific identity is a complex interaction between the self, others, the environment, histories and spiritual dimensions. While service to others is one of the primary mechanisms through which Pacific people access their identities and take part in these interactions, language is the other main mechanism due to expressions of cultural knowledge being made primarily in the heritage languages of the Pacific. Some Pacific children and young people also talked about their experiences of racism at school including negative stereotyping and people having a lack of understanding of Pacific culture. This indicated a lack of cultural competency among schools and teachers. Recognition of Pacific cultures in the education system could be improved to give effect to the realisation of the right to education for Pacific children and young people. Cultural Wellbeing 37.8 percent of Pacific peoples can speak two languages or more. Photo courtesy of Le Va. Cultural rights are human rights. The ICESCR recognises the right of everyone to take part in 125 126 127 Article 15(1)(a). International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 27. In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language. UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=13179&URL_DO=DO_ TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html. 37