Bookless Children, Institutions Blame Each Other

Teachers and parents are expressing concern that students have not received all texts, mainly of natural science and foreign languages. They complain that the learning process since 3 September has been taking place with difficulty.

They say the learning process is being accomplished with difficulty and if these books are not brought to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology they must find any alternative for the missing titles.

Second grade teacher at this school Valbona Thaci Bajchinca says her entire class is missing the book; Natural and environmental sciences are causing problems in their education.

According to Bichinces, this situation is a burden for educators as they are trying to find alternative forms for teaching classes.

If we don't have any books at all, then it's just that we're going to find other ways of research in this case, maybe we're going to get to Albas if they don't bring something to the Ministry... it's harder because unfortunately we don't have a laptop at all... sure it's a little bit more loaded for us, but I think they're going to give us an answer or they're not coming in and we're going to start answering the results about what we have to say.

Clea Shala, a second-grader, says she is having difficulty learning because she is missing some books, but adds that in cooperation with her teacher, she is trying somehow to find out.

The teacher is explaining to us on the table and making some sheets or notebooks... Society and environment and human and nature... at least”, she says.

Concern about the lack of some school titles in “Fik Konica“has also been expressed by the parent, the Demir, who says his son, who follows second grade, lacks three books.

He says that as parents, they have no answers to when their children are equipped with these books.

“The boy is in second grade right now, three books are currently missing, one is English, social education or natural education. What's bothering us is the third week is that it's just started learning, and we still don't have an answer to whether these books are coming or not, except for the English language that they're saying the decision is made that has to come out; while these other two books I believe in co-ordination with the teachers should come up with alternative sources of how to deal with them if those books don't come back, Demiri said.

Deputy Director of the lower elementary school “Fic Konica”, Arsim Gashi has confirmed that this school is facing a lack of English and German-language books, while other books have it all.

As far as those two titles are concerned, he says they have received answer from August that in a short term, they will accept these books as well.

“We as a school “Faik Konica”, as well as other schools have lack of second grade English, sixth grade and English language of the ninth class, and German language of the sixth and seventh grade, for which even municipal directors and the ministry have sent us emails that they will bring in a very short time ... The teachers from alternative sources are the internet, they are photocopies from old 48x3> says Gashi.

Deputy principal of the school “Faik Conica” also said a small number of books from past years that have not been much damaged have been used even this year.

Political adviser to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MASHT), Valmir Gashi, has told Kosovo that they have accepted some requests for textbooks but that in time they will proceed with them.

According to him, it is the responsibility of the Municipal Education Directors to distribute textbooks in schools.

“MAST under the plan has made the distribution of textbooks and school materials in Kosovo municipalities, and this is done on the basis of legislation in force and requirements that have come to us from the municipalities. The responsibility to distribute textbooks to schools is municipalities, not the ministry. School directors should first direct their requests to DKA in relevant municipalities and then there are DAKA address the ministry for additional texts and materials. MAST has also accepted requests for supplementary textbooks and has long followed them away from”, he answers.

Otherwise, many other schools, in various Kosovo municipalities, are having trouble with book equipment that is distributed free of charge by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MASHT).