OSCE Kosovo Mission welcomes democratic education programme
PRIZREN, 24 March 2005 * Some 40 students, professors, parents and
school managers today met with students of minority communities in
Prizren today to discuss reforms in Kosovo education. The event was
organized in a multi-ethnic secondary school by the OSCE Mission in
Kosovo, in co-operation with the Kosovo Ministry of Education, Science
and Technology (MEST) and the Ferizaj/Uro*evac Parent and Teacher
Association (KFAP). "The purpose of the visit was to strengthen the
intercultural bridge between pupils of different backgrounds, to
establish new relationship, friendship and promote tolerance," said
Mr. Mustafë Beqiri, the project co-ordinator and director of the
Parent and Teacher Association The OSCE Office in *trpce/Shtërpcë has
been advising and assisting the parents and teachers association since
early 2004 on enhancing co-operation between schools in
Ferizaj/Uro*evac and Kaçanik/Ka*anik municipalities, by hosting
seminars on civic education, tolerance, human rights, and teaching
through interactive participation. Today's event is a pilot initiative
of the Supplementary Democratic Education Programme (SDEP) to share
their experiences and the SDEP manual with the educational system in
Prizren. The programme was designed by the Ferizaj/Uro*evac Parent and
Teacher Association to promote understanding and involvement of young
people in a participatory and democratic society. The Programme will
also address overall societal concerns such as drug abuse, teenage
pregnancy and disease prevention. "There is now an understanding among
secondary school directors of the need to continue with these
activities," said Mohammed Sagdati, Project Manager for the OSCE
Office in *trpce/Shtërpcë. "We hope that more schools throughout
Kosovo will be included in these activities as they are appreciated by
students and teachers." The initiative is focused on Grade 9 students
* a group that does not have adequate teaching materials for civic
education. Lessons learned from this initiative will later be
incorporated into the MEST policy decisions for the 2005-6 school
year. The OSCE Mission in Kosovo endeavours to support initiatives
involving youth, both in terms of education and social development. It
has also advised the government on curriculum development for civic
education. ---------------------------------------------------
Sven Lindholm
Mission Spokesperson
OSCE Mission in Kosovo
Tel: +381 38 500 162 ext.260
Mob: +377 44 500 254
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