Hoxhaj calls for transforming education in Kosovo through a national pact and increased funding

Following a roundtable held today on the challenges and priorities of pre-university education, Enver Hoxhaj, chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Science, called for sweeping changes to Kosovo’s education system. He said reforms are not enough and that transformation must cover the entire journey from early childhood education through every level of pre-university education.

In a Facebook post, Hoxhaj said that the lawmakers, university professors, researchers and civil society activists who took part in the roundtable called for a nationwide agreement to be formalized in a National Pact for Education. Their demands also included changing the funding formula and increasing the education budget.

Participants described the state of education as alarming and stressed the need for a clear vision both for the education system and for the society Kosovo seeks to build. They called for the roundtable to serve as an open forum for dialogue on drafting the National Pact for Education.

Poor performance on the PISA test was identified as a worrying sign, with participants noting that the situation is deteriorating. In response, they called for action to begin with early childhood education and extend across all pre-university education.

On infrastructure, discussions focused on investment in educational facilities, expanding space for nurseries and ensuring that primary and secondary schools in Kosovo have the conditions needed to provide all-day classes.

Another set of priorities included a comprehensive review of the curriculum and aligning textbooks with it, alongside teachers’ professional development and higher salaries. Particular attention was given to the digitalization of education and improving skills in reading, mathematics and science.

In Hoxhaj’s view, educational transformation and children’s future must rest on three pillars: national consensus, funding and a larger education budget.