Syria's Returned Children Begin Learning in September

At the table organised by the Commission for Internal Affairs and Security, where it was discussed on the integration of Kosovo citizens and their war-turned family in Syria, institutions involved in this case showed how far the reintegration process has gone.

Major Blerim Rama, who leads the anti-terrorism Directorate in the Kosovo Police, said the challenges they are now presenting, following their return, are security and use of criminal procedure evidence, for actions Kosovo citizens have committed in the conflict area in Syria, the KSP reports.

Speaking of those who were warriors in Syria, he said using evidence turns out to be problematic.

Rama said that from meetings that are being held with Syria-turned women who are currently under house arrest, the dilemmas have raised whether they should raise children, since they do not appear to be returning to the Kosovo state system.

A challenge and practice, which we are contacting our partners, turns out that states are treating women in different forms some are seeing as victims, some are treating them as suspicious. Right now we've started dealing with them as suspicious, to see what we're being told, where they've been, what they've done, in time the respective institutions will make decisions. One challenge we've outlined as the director of our meetings with these women is whether they are the right women to raise these children, what we should do as institutions that these kids don't take us for granted in 2012, 2013, sent to Syria, what the state should do, which actions it takes. Not everyone, but with some, if these kids only grow up inside the house, I don't know what we're going to do when they're 20 years old. This is the topic to discuss”, he said.

Mensur Hoti from the Department for Security at the Ministry of Internal Affairs said the main concern has been the health of returnees.

The main concern was, is it possible to carry a disease that could endanger public safety, population, or family. The Public Health Institute has been declared for completion. We have come to the conclusion that we are not endangered by the disease that can spread, and after taking any other documents and procedures, we have released these citizens home. Women, they're all under house arrest. Before long, this measure has continued for another two months. The MPB's main engagement then had to do with rehabilitation”, he said.

While Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology Eset Sahiti said all children in September will be integrated into the education system.

“MAST in co-operation with the Ministry of Justice and the municipalities also offers instruction in the correctional centre and the prisons of Kosovo, already from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, we have the data for the number of returnees and we will design a details plan and expect or guarantee, that in September all returning children will be integrated into the” education system, he said.

Sahiti has made it known that MART has to draft an administrative guide for pupils who have migrated, which envisions their re-system at respective schools. He also pointed out that students are allowed to continue teaching in schools where they have been registered.

He said that for repatriated children MANT has established teaching criteria and procedures, while also for repatriated adults said there is access to education

Otherwise, in April of this year, the state of Kosovo has managed to turn 110 citizens from conflict areas in Syria, among them 4 fighters, 32 women and 74 children. The operation of Kosovo institutions is supported by the United States of America.