XI Promotion of the right of the child to education 35. Welcomes: (a) The report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to education (E/CN.4/1999/49); (b) The increased attention given by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to the right to education, taking note of the thematic discussion held at its nineteenth session in November 1998, and stresses the importance of close cooperation with the Committee on the Rights of the Child, within the scope of their respective mandates; (c) The high priority accorded to education for all, in particular girls' education, by the United Nations Children's Fund in its programme work and advocacy efforts and takes note of The State of the World's Children 1999 report with its focus on education; 36. Reaffirms the particular importance of the right of the child to education and the goals of Education for All, emphasizing the need for governments to broaden and constantly redefine the scope of basic education, including early childhood care and initial education, to develop a supporting policy context and to mobilize existing and new financial and human resources, including through concerted international action and cooperation; 37. Calls upon States: (a) To recognize the right to education on the basis of equal opportunities by making primary education compulsory and ensuring that all children have access to free and relevant primary education, as well as making secondary education generally available and accessible to all, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education; (b) Which have not been able to secure compulsory primary education, free of charge, to work out and adopt a detailed plan of action for the progressive implementation of the principle of compulsory education free of charge for all; (c) To ensure that emphasis is given to the qualitative aspects of education and that the education of the child shall be carried out in accordance with articles 28 and 29 of the Convention on the Rights of the page 22