Some schools in Kosovo are under threat

The heads of institutions have indicated that in the first months of this year in co-operation with municipalities, reshuffle of the school network will begin. Educators are praising that gathering ground data is important for making a proper decision.

As a result of small numbers of students, some schools in rural areas are at risk of closing. Among them are schools in the Ferizaj Town.

The education director in this municipality, Africa Labjan, told RTK that there are eight schools in Ferizaj that are being addressed based on the Administrative Guide the Ministry of Education has issued.

The Ministry of Education has prepared an Administrative Guide, which concerns handling schools that have small numbers of students. On the basis of this instruction, certain criteria and specifics related to the matter are also set. In the Ferizaj municipality, unfortunately, we have eight schools which are being addressed in this conflict and are expected to undertake something for a period of time”, he said.

Education Minister Arberie Nagavci, in a response to Radio Kosovo, said that in co-operation with the municipal education directorates, the school reshuffle process will begin early this year.

We have planned that in co-operation with municipalities at the beginning of this year the reshuffle of the school network because it is a process that takes little time and is longer. Our goal has been to set criteria that will take into account the specific circumstances of each school and on the other side make sure the same criteria --” are respected at the country level, she said.

And education connoisseurs estimate that in this important process it is the collection of accurate, comprehensive data.

Youth Qehaja from the Edguard Institute told Kosovo Radio that students, educators and school space should be involved in this decision.

In this process we need to have precise statistical data that enables decisions in this matter to be real. This school restructuring debate needs to have a basis, that base is the precise data for students' numbers, for teachers and school space”, he said.

According to some published reports, there are reportedly fewer students up to 40 per cent in some Kosovo municipalities. With the Law on Local Self-Government, municipalities have a right to decision making in terms of primary and middle public education, and in this context they can re-organise primary and secondary public education.