Great shame” – Mekuli’s harsh reaction to Kosovo’s position in the PISA test

Journalist Gëzim Mekuli has expressed deep indignation after Kosovo was ranked 357th in the international PISA assessment, calling this ranking an alarm signal.

In his strong criticism, he targeted the lack of essential reforms in the education system and demanded accountability from all the Ministers of Education who have led over the years. Mekuli argued that Kosovo’s failure goes beyond the institutional sphere, touching the core of forming an educated citizen.

Through a post on the social network Facebook, he wrote:

“357, for God’s sake. This number should make us feel ashamed.”

Then, he drew attention to comparisons with other realities: “Take a look at the table: Palestine ranks 359th, Lebanon 372nd. Countries that are experiencing conflicts, crises, and extraordinary tragedies.”

Mekuli added that behind Kosovo come only Paraguay, Iraqi Kurdistan, Guatemala, Zambia, Kenya, Tajikistan, and Rwanda, asking whether, more than 26 years after the end of the war, conflict and Serbia can still be used as an excuse, when countries like Lebanon and Palestine have surpassed our results. “Should we forever play the victim role?” he added.

Continuing the reaction, the journalist raised direct questions about accountability: “Where is the accountability of the Ministers of Education since 2000? Where are the promised transformations? Where has knowledge gone?”

He closed his message with a deep reflection: “Kosovo is not simply failing in building institutions, but it is failing in creating the knowledgeable individual; and this danger is much greater than any negative figure. To the last point: is this ‘illiterate’ political class the fruit of this education system, or is this education system the fruit of a political class that does not want the educated Albanian?”