parallel education

Numerous obstacles continue to accompany the integration of Serbia's parallel institutions within the unified educational system in Kosovo. With the exception of the diploma nomination, the issue of parallel schooling in Kosovo is not included in the Brussels dialogue.

As long as the diploma recognition agreement has never been implemented, a temporary affirmation measure has been put into place for non-US communities that have graduated from Serbian institutions.

It is this process of verifying diplomas of those who have conducted studies at North Mitrovica University for employment. But on June 30th, this process has also been suspended. A long-term solution to Serbian language education does not appear on the horizon, and the divide between the two systems has only deepened.

Half solution

Graduates in Serbian-language educational institutions in Kosovo, from all levels, since 1999 have been unable to use their diplomas, whether for employment or for advancing professional information. In 2015, with the mediation of the European Centre for Mine Affairs (ECMI), the Kosovo Ministry of Education and the University of Northern Mitrovica have reached agreement on verifying diplomas issued by the University of North Mitrovica, though the issue is not part of the agreement between Pristina and Belgrade. The regulation of the Government enabled for the first time the verification of diplomas issued by the only institution of higher education operating in the Serbian language in Kosovo, respectively, their recognition for employment purposes in all public institutions.

Aida Hot is a mediator at the Centre for Alternative Consultation of the Conventions ) Centre for Mediating Mitrovica (ADRC – MCM). She graduated from the Faculty of Technical Sciences with temporary headquarters in northern Mitrovica, the Department of Technology in 2011. In 2016 she had to verify her diploma, a process that she said lasted between 20 and 30 days, writes Koha Ditore.

We've already completed the middle-broker training in North Mitrovica and received CzM certificates/ The ADRC has informed us that we need to verify our diplomas to be able to obtain the broker's license. So Czm/ The ADRC entered the agreement to conduct this process together with the employees of the Constitutional Court and Prosecutorship, with an accelerated procedure, to get the mediator's diplomat”, says Hot, who belongs to Bosniak affiliation and lives in North Mitrovica. It expresses satisfaction with the work it does, while adding that the mediator's role should be advanced further, in the sense of payments, “as different from the countries of the region, in Kosovo is minimal, and the mediators do not have a permanent source of revenues”. Hot says she would like her diploma to be recognised by all institutions and not limited to the goal of employment.

“Of course our diplomas should be automatically recognised, and this is not just about employment”, she says.