PDK: Government manages the parallel pandemic to create conditions for bringing children back to schools

The Democratic Party of Kosovo has expressed concern about the way the pandemic is managed on the part of the Kosovo government, demanding that, along with the management of this situation, conditions be created for the return to students' schools.

At a media conference held today. The PDK has said, among other things, that September is finding Kosovo and its government without a concrete plan to continue teaching 2020/2021.

PDK's full communication:

Honored media representatives, honoured citizens of the Republic of Kosovo.

Summer break is almost over.

Pandemia has taken on whole other dynamics in Kosovo after the big, uncontrolled opening from June, and the start of teaching in September finds Kosovo and its next government without a concrete plan for how the lesson for 2020/2021 will continue.

Online teaching was necessary, not only in Kosovo but throughout the world when it was set for total closure or quarantine at the beginnings of the pandemic, but today when we are at a different moment of opening challenges that naturally caused an increase of people infected with COVID 19, parents and many countries' governments, in spite of that, are appealing for the opening of schools and the turning of children into normal conditions due to many psychological consequences, children's developing obstacles, and the realisation of the curriculum, as well as in the vast gender and ethnic inequality, that online learning to spread around the world, including Kosovo.

According to research and finally the report by Minister Likaj before the Parliamentary Commission for Education, Science and Culture, Youth and Sports, over 10% of Kosovo students have had no access to online learning.

And other social categories and children with special needs have had other problems during this period, because of the specifics in learning and working with them, as well as lack of equipment. When we are other ethnic categories in Kosovo, for example, the community RAE also had problems during this period. The figure is up to 40% of those who have not had access to online learning.

Another problem has been the huge amount of communication and heating platforms that have tired both children and parents, while while simultaneously spreading the problem of digitizing Kosovo's educational system that had recently started as a priority agenda.

The main reasons:

• Internet Access Lack
• Lack of Technology Equipment
• The absence of a tutor in families where parents are not educated especially in minority groups
• The absence of a tutor for children with special needs, including parents, are of special needs

So, not by chance, many studies say that online or at home in isolation situations have exposed and deepened social inequality.

The PDK is analyzing the policies, strategies and cracks of various countries that are mobilised and prepared for return to institutions, as well as taking measures that transform the health security situation, risk levels and capacities (infrastructural and human resources).

U n NICEF, the World Bank and other international and local organisations, together with the governments of various countries and schools, are working not only on reopening schools, but on reopening schools with better hygiene and organisational conditions as an environment that will ensure new opportunities for direct learning.

Also, measures such as temperature verification, washing stations and disinfectation, wearing a mask and physical distance will be part of everyday life in these institutions.

In a word, the pandemic has been spreading the need for new spatial technical standards in public institutions. This is added next to other signs and requisitors, which will surely be part of the school design gym if the teaching is held in its environments.

The PDK raised concern about whether Kosovo is ready to return to schools because we have not seen any concrete plans by the government for starting school education, nor the idea of spatial school reorganisation, marking or even hygienic conditions, knowing that our schools, even in normal conditions, are problematic.

Numerous scenarios have been overshadowed by international practices such as total restitution especially for lower classes where the most problematic remains first grade, combined return several hours at school, and some at home, or third scenario online learning

The government of the Republic of Kosovo, respected by the education ministry, needs to put children's health and well-being at the centre of recovery plans by COVID, and with this experts on various fields to be involved in working together for children.

PDK stresses O lesson NINE under conditions of total isolation also meant its own despite the quality and problems it has left behind. But now that most activities are open, parents must work not only because of obligations but also because of the economic gravity caused by the inability of the government Kurti and Hoti, who failed hard to support citizens now six months so it is absurd that the minister of education requires each of the families to stay at home because of online instruction because small children have no part of it without parental supervision as the largest burden falls on them.

The PDK stresses that classes can be re-organized, and in cases when there is no possibility of doing so, the class can be divided into two groups and teaching can be held part-time for both groups of one class. Additional hygienic marks and equipment are necessary in the present public spaces, and these services as we know they are usually tendered under the procurement law and take their time. Is there enough time for these processes by September 1st?

Since June this government has had time to think that the pandemic is still here, but the circumstances of our social and spatial functioning have changed after opening and it has had to be beyond the adaptive stage during the isolation period now had to go through the stages of recovery and co-existence with the pandemic.

Regarding all this The PDK has some questions and worries:

• What will happen to 12% of students who had no access to education last half-year?
• What will happen to 40 % in the community The RAE that didn't have a lesson?
• What will happen to children with special needs?
• Pandemia has burdened children even during isolation. How will we recover their emotional and psychological aspects?
• Will there be a digital pact where books and work notebooks are digitized and teaching children to become more charming, since those with new communication technologies start very early and they get expelled when it comes to education?

The PDK is deeply concerned and aware of the current situation, but the government of the Republic of Kosovo has the responsibility to manage the pandemic and also provide conditions and opportunities to restore children to school.

The loss of the education battle in proportion to COVID 19 will be the biggest loss for the state of Kosovo, because the consequences will be carried by generations.