Head of OSCE Mission concerned with ethnic segregation of students in Zepce
At the start of the new school year on 1 September, the Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, Ambassador Beecroft, has warned against ethnic segregation within schools. (OSCE) Photo details
SARAJEVO, 1 September 2003 - Ambassador Robert M. Beecroft, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, has expressed his concern about the situation in the municipality of Zepce, where he thinks that the politics of segregation is once again interfering with agreed and much needed programme of education reform.
Ambassador Beecroft supported the position taken by the Zenica-Doboj Cantonal Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports that segregation of students along ethnic lines in the cases of Fra Grga Martic Primary School in Zepce municipality and Novi Seher Primary School is unacceptable.
"We must not allow students to be deprived of quality education because of divisive political vocation of a few," Beecroft said.
"The elimination of the segregation brings BiH closer to its future in Europe. It is a key part of the overall education reform strategy to improve the quality education in this country. The political leadership in Zepce must not jeopardize this, as it is the children and not the politicians who will pay the prize if education reform fails."
The Head of the OSCE Mission reminded the authorities of the goals and objectives of the Education Reform Strategy, which was endorsed by all ministers of education in November 2002. The strategy aims "to de-segregate education" and "to ensure that all children have access to 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."
The OSCE Mission strongly encourages the Zepce municipal authorities to adhere to these principles and gives full support to the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports in implementing full legal and administrative unification of "two schools under one roof" in Zenica-Doboj Canton.
Ambassador Beecroft supported the position taken by the Zenica-Doboj Cantonal Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports that segregation of students along ethnic lines in the cases of Fra Grga Martic Primary School in Zepce municipality and Novi Seher Primary School is unacceptable.
"We must not allow students to be deprived of quality education because of divisive political vocation of a few," Beecroft said.
"The elimination of the segregation brings BiH closer to its future in Europe. It is a key part of the overall education reform strategy to improve the quality education in this country. The political leadership in Zepce must not jeopardize this, as it is the children and not the politicians who will pay the prize if education reform fails."
The Head of the OSCE Mission reminded the authorities of the goals and objectives of the Education Reform Strategy, which was endorsed by all ministers of education in November 2002. The strategy aims "to de-segregate education" and "to ensure that all children have access to 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."
The OSCE Mission strongly encourages the Zepce municipal authorities to adhere to these principles and gives full support to the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports in implementing full legal and administrative unification of "two schools under one roof" in Zenica-Doboj Canton.