Education Union: If Kosovo's departure continues, schools will remain uninstructed

The deputy chairman of the United Education Union, Vjollca Shala, has raised concerns about the continued departure of teachers and students from Kosovo schools, stressing that migration to European countries is taking place due to better living conditions and higher payments.

Shala for Online Economy said that schools are at risk of leaving without educational and student staff if the current trend continues.

The most disturbing “is the information we are receiving from the ground for the departure of students from Kosovo schools, but at the same time for the departure of teachers from Kosovo schools.
Most of them are emigrating across Europe because they are finding better living conditions and better paying for teachers. It is disturbing, because Kosovo schools are being evacuated by both students and teachers. Simply, teachers are having to learn the language of the State where they emigrate, as they already have the experience of work. It's disturbing, because in a future, if such an escape continues, our schools will remain uninstructed. Analyzing both the political situation and the non-compliance of the Kosovo Assembly, it is causing uncertainty for both students and teachers”, Shala said.

It criticised state institutions for failing to create proper conditions in education and for delays in functioning the Kosovo Assembly.

<x) At the same time, students with their families are, of course, leaving because they are finding better conditions in different European countries. The departure has enabled visa liberalisation itself. This year, in the case of liberalisation, different family members are leaving to prove their lives somewhere in Europe and finding better living, of course they are continuing to live in those states”, she added.

Shala also cited the failure to implement the Constitutional Court's decisions on paying labour experience, as well as delays in signing the collective contract with the Ministry of Education.

“Accountable is the state itself and institutions itself that are responsible for creating better conditions, both for students and teachers. A few months have already passed since holding elections, and the constitution is not being implemented. We also have the Constitutional Court's decisions on work experience involving the first 15 years of our ministry. Teachers are being paid only 0.25% per service year, while the Court has made a decision for 0.5%. About four percent are being damaged in the face of increased life prices. We also have the case of a draft collective contract, which should have been signed between the Ministry of Education and SBASK”, Shala told EO.