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High time to put an end to segregation in Bosnia and Herzegovina schools
SARAJEVO 17 August 2003
SARAJEVO, 17 August 2003 - Representatives from the Federation, the Republika Srpska, the Cantons and Brcko District have worked intensively since August 2002, with the support of international community experts, to develop and implement Five Pledges for Education Reform and the associated Education Reform Strategy. From the outset, the goal has been to achieve the maximum progress possible in time for the opening of the 2003-2004 school year, including the end of segregation masquerading as "two schools under one roof".
The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina is disappointed to note that some in Cantons 6 and 7 are still attempting to isolate themselves from these commitments, by delaying issuance of instructions for administrative unification of "two schools under one roof". In so doing, they are demonstrating that they are out of step with their fellow education authorities in the Federation, the RS and Brcko, as well as with the majority of citizens of this country and with the rest of Europe and North America. If they were to succeed, they would deprive the children of those Cantons of the benefits and opportunities of "quality education, in integrated, multicultural schools, that is free from political, religious, cultural and other bias and discrimination and which respects the rights of all children" (Pledge 1).
In their "Message to the People of Bosnia and Herzegovina" on Education Reform, the Minister and Deputy Minister of Education of the Federation and the Minster of Education of the RS declared: "There is no place for an education system in our country that divides and segregates children on an ethnic basis. Our education system must enable our children to go to school together, so that they can learn to respect and cherish the precious cultural diversity that makes our country unique."
Now the time has come to put those formal declarations into practice. Any unwillingness to comply with solemn commitments made to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the international community demonstrates flagrant bad faith and a betrayal of honour in disrespecting the solemn commitments already made. It is impossible to reconcile those solemn commitments with the continuance of segregation based on ethnicity; and segregation is precisely what "two schools under one roof" is intended to preserve.
Legal and administrative unification of the existing 52 "two schools under one roof" in BiH is a quite straightforward procedural process. It requires that the legal status of such schools be changed by registering them as single legal bodies with one school director and one school board. Its purpose is to bring an end to the "two schools under one roof". The Education Ministers of Cantons 6 and 7 should issue those instructions without a moment's further delay.
As a condition for BiH to become a full member of the Council of Europe, the post-accession requirements oblige all BiH authorities to "end segregation in education". It is high time to move forward with the full implementation of education reform and to bring BiH in line with Europe and the 21st century. Politics must remain outside of the classroom.
The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina is disappointed to note that some in Cantons 6 and 7 are still attempting to isolate themselves from these commitments, by delaying issuance of instructions for administrative unification of "two schools under one roof". In so doing, they are demonstrating that they are out of step with their fellow education authorities in the Federation, the RS and Brcko, as well as with the majority of citizens of this country and with the rest of Europe and North America. If they were to succeed, they would deprive the children of those Cantons of the benefits and opportunities of "quality education, in integrated, multicultural schools, that is free from political, religious, cultural and other bias and discrimination and which respects the rights of all children" (Pledge 1).
In their "Message to the People of Bosnia and Herzegovina" on Education Reform, the Minister and Deputy Minister of Education of the Federation and the Minster of Education of the RS declared: "There is no place for an education system in our country that divides and segregates children on an ethnic basis. Our education system must enable our children to go to school together, so that they can learn to respect and cherish the precious cultural diversity that makes our country unique."
Now the time has come to put those formal declarations into practice. Any unwillingness to comply with solemn commitments made to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the international community demonstrates flagrant bad faith and a betrayal of honour in disrespecting the solemn commitments already made. It is impossible to reconcile those solemn commitments with the continuance of segregation based on ethnicity; and segregation is precisely what "two schools under one roof" is intended to preserve.
Legal and administrative unification of the existing 52 "two schools under one roof" in BiH is a quite straightforward procedural process. It requires that the legal status of such schools be changed by registering them as single legal bodies with one school director and one school board. Its purpose is to bring an end to the "two schools under one roof". The Education Ministers of Cantons 6 and 7 should issue those instructions without a moment's further delay.
As a condition for BiH to become a full member of the Council of Europe, the post-accession requirements oblige all BiH authorities to "end segregation in education". It is high time to move forward with the full implementation of education reform and to bring BiH in line with Europe and the 21st century. Politics must remain outside of the classroom.