Kosovo Education in the 21st Century: A Challenging Future

• Main Authors: Arber Salihu, Dren Terziqi, Eugene C. Schaffer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bulgarian Comparative Education Society (BCES) 2019-06-01
• Series: BCES Conference Books
• Subjects: Kosovo; educational reform; parallel systems; system reconstruction
• Online Access: http://bces-conference-books.org/onewebmedia/2019.230-237.Salihu_Terziqi_Schaffer.pdf

Kosovo’s educational system lies at the nexus of complex historical circumstances, the influence of transnational organizations, and local imperatives. With the collapse of Yugoslavia, the political and ethnic tensions played out on an international scale and in the day-to-day lives of Kosovo’s citizens. At the end of the second decade since the cessation of hostilities changes have come to the system, but these appear to be fragile and the sustainability of the changes are uncertain. Europe has diminished its role in the change. Some elements of self-determination have emerged with Kosovo in discussions with Serbia on substantial national issues, but progress remains elusive. Balkan states are often regarded as countries in transition. What remains to be resolved is the engagement of decision-makers in development of education. Rather than a political arena, essential for Kosovo is the creation of a professional system to support learning and development through increased financial investments, commitments to quality and resources for education.