Protest, debate on strike in Kosovo education sector

Some of the protesters to whom the Voice of America spoke expressed concern over the loss of classes as they highlighted the difficulties the strikes have caused in everyday life.

“Gate three months are taking time off because it is being denied the right to our children, these are not to blame, I call on the president, the prime minister to cancel this strike, to find a solution for our children”, Xhemile Sejdiu said.

As a parent today, we've come out to express our concern with disregard or to say with this deadlock going on between unions and the government. Our goal is not to find the guilty on one side or another, our goal is to make the pressure so that the parties can agree as soon as possible so that the driver will be resolved and the children will return to their friends, gardens and education”, said Artan Krasniqi.

I mean, it's been a month since I can't keep working, it's an employer's understanding, but I don't know how long it goes. Right now we have a lot of trouble making solutions for two kids. There would have to be understanding both by the government and the SBASK since we as parents are in trouble”, Besian Hoxha said.

Protesters closed their activities near the United Trade Union of Science and Culture building. The deputy head of this union, Ymer Ymeri, said he understands parents' demands but underlined that the Kosovo government is responsible for the situation.

The resolution is in the government, should be down and meet our demands. We have made moves in demand, while the government is barricaded and does not want to talk as if there is a desire for the strike to last more”, Ymer said.

Education workers charge an additional 100 euros monthly until the adoption of the Law of Salaries. The government has offered an additional 50 euros a month for the rest of this year, within the package for facing inflation. Meetings between the two sides so far have not produced results in the alignment of positions that would pave the way for ending the strike, which has left out of the school process over 320 thousand students.

In a debate in Kosovo's parliament, opposition parties today reiterated support for the Union of Independent Unions' demands, while seeking solutions from the government to end the blockade in the educational system.

“Prime Minister Kurti in this parliament has said education is a priority and requires national consensus, among those five priorities seeking national consensus even with political subjects. The fact that he is not willing to seek consensus with the unions shows much about where we are in September 2022. Therefore, prime minister the educators are all political parties, are citizens of Kosovo, and I invite you to return and talk to them”, Enver Hoxhaj said from the Democratic Party of Kosovo.

I'm telling you that unions are right and the government isn't, because we're in democracy and not the other system where power rules wild and government as it wants. In the end, I mean, it got pretty stubborn where the parties blame each other and there's no choice. It is time for the government to make a solution, so I call on you to meet the demands of the unions and the state to return to normal 48x1>, Pal Lekaj said of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said meeting the demand of 100 euros a month would be a mistake since it would promote similar demands of other groups, while stressing that the strike has been politicised and used against its government.

This would jeopardise strike numbers and is wrong. I don't resent any unionist, even unionists if they analyzed a little more would understand that an ideological chief unionist has made him prime minister. But they are not wanting to see this because clearly the strike has become weapons against the prime minister, not for teachers and education”, Prime Minister Kurti said.

Education experts in Kosovo say a lost day of learning in Kosovo has a far greater role than in other countries because of the qualms that still characterize the country's educational system.