The Issue

The Issue

Unicef in action

Unicef in action

 

The Issue

© UNMIK/DPI

There are few places in Europe where the right of a child to go to school has been disrupted more than in Kosovo. 45 per cent of schools were damaged by the conflict and cultural and traditional barriers have kept a significant minority of rural and ethnic minority girls out of school. Non enrollment of girl children is as high as 33 per cent in some minorities. Very few children with disability are able to enjoy an education outside of the major cities in Kosovo.

Some six years after the war, things are looking up for children. Schools have been repaired and teachers are back in classrooms, but still much needs to be done. 15 years of instability, isolation and conflict have left schools in Kosovo behind-as the rest of Europe has adapted to modern teaching practices that provide children with the best possible start in life. UNICEF aims to ensure that Kosovo children can also benefit from a modern education.

Children’s education has also been held back by the continuing ethnic divides that continue to plague Kosovo. Delays in developing a curriculum all sides can agree on- have left schools in some areas unable to function while returning children who were displaced in the conflict cannot find a place in school.

UNICEF wants to ensure that by 2010 every child has a place in school in Kosovo. The Provisional Institutions of Self Government (PISG) is managing education in Kosovo for the first time. UNICEF is working with the PISG and it’s Ministry of Education and Science (MEST) in the following areas:

Access:           Making sure every child has a place in school.

Quality           Making sure every child has access to good quality education.

Attainment     Making sure every child is able to complete their education

Governance   Providing technical and material assistance to the Ministry of Education and Science to ensure they can effectively manage education services throughout Kosovo.