Newsroom
OSCE Kosovo Mission welcomes democratic education programme
PRIZREN 24 March 2005
PRIZREN, 24 March 2005 - Some 40 students, professors, parents and school managers met 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 and the Ferizaj/Urosevac Parent and Teacher Association.
"The purpose of the visit was to strengthen the intercultural bridge between pupils of different backgrounds, to establish new relationships and friendships and promote tolerance," said Mustafe Beqiri, project co-ordinator and director of the Parent and Teacher Association
The OSCE Office in Strpce/Shterpce has been advising and assisting the parents and teachers association since early 2004 on enhancing co-operation between schools in Ferizaj/Urosevac and Kacanik/Kacanik 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 to share their experiences and manual with the educational system in Prizren. The programme was designed by the Ferizaj/Urosevac Parent and Teacher Association to promote understanding and involvement of young people in a democratic society. The Programme will also address 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 Strpce/Shterpce. "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 Education ministry's policy decisions for the 2005-6 school year.
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo supports initiatives involving young people, both in terms of education and social development. It has also advised the government on curriculum development for civic 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 and the Ferizaj/Urosevac Parent and Teacher Association.
"The purpose of the visit was to strengthen the intercultural bridge between pupils of different backgrounds, to establish new relationships and friendships and promote tolerance," said Mustafe Beqiri, project co-ordinator and director of the Parent and Teacher Association
The OSCE Office in Strpce/Shterpce has been advising and assisting the parents and teachers association since early 2004 on enhancing co-operation between schools in Ferizaj/Urosevac and Kacanik/Kacanik 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 to share their experiences and manual with the educational system in Prizren. The programme was designed by the Ferizaj/Urosevac Parent and Teacher Association to promote understanding and involvement of young people in a democratic society. The Programme will also address 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 Strpce/Shterpce. "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 Education ministry's policy decisions for the 2005-6 school year.
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo supports initiatives involving young people, both in terms of education and social development. It has also advised the government on curriculum development for civic education.