The dual education system in Kosovo has seen strong development in recent years and is considered a clear example of success.

The Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (OEK) will play an important role in advancing it. On Wednesday, the chamber announced that it has signed cooperation agreements with 32 vocational schools involved in this type of education.

During the signing, OEK chairman Lulzim Rafuna described these agreements as a bridge that ensures a professional environment between state and private institutions.

According to Rafuna, the signed agreements are not mere formalities, but a historic moment that changes the way the country prepares its future workforce. He stressed that the partnership between OEK and schools is an institutional commitment to sustainable and functional long-term cooperation, creating a more professional environment for everyone involved.

These statements were made during the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce conference titled “Conclusion of Dual Education in Kosovo: Achievements, Lessons Learned and Next Steps,” attended by ambassadors and senior institutional representatives.

Lah Nitaj from the Ministry of Education and Science announced that two generations of dual education students have completed their studies so far, while the third generation is expected to graduate next year. He added that this achievement should be a source of pride for everyone.

Nitaj acknowledged that the road has not been easy at all, citing long working hours, weekend sacrifices and efforts to adapt the best models to Kosovo’s reality. Nevertheless, he expressed special gratitude to parents, who overcame cultural barriers and various hesitations to support their children.

It was stressed during the conference that the success achieved would not have been possible without the support of Germany and Luxembourg. Luxembourg’s ambassador, Eric Dietz, described support for vocational education as a direct investment in people, linking the learning process with the reality of the labor market.

Dietz stressed that this cooperation helps young people gain practical skills and at the same time provides businesses with the qualified employees they need. He noted that six new programs have been created in sectors such as information technology, renewable energy and wood processing, preparing students for growing branches of Kosovo’s economy. According to him, the results are visible: since 2022, dual education has grown from a pilot phase with about 100 students to over 2,500 students today, including 32 partner schools and more than 1,000 cooperating enterprises.

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Pristina’s Municipal Directorate of Education has instructed schools to dedicate the first lesson tomorrow, September 16, to the Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK), the history of the war for Kosovo’s liberation, and the role of those who contributed to this process.

Through a letter dated September 15, 2026, school administrations were asked to tailor the topics covered during this lesson to the students’ age. The issues to be addressed include the UÇK’s war, citizens’ sacrifice for Kosovo’s freedom, as well as the court proceedings in The Hague against former UÇK leaders.

The Municipality of Pristina said that through this initiative it aims to familiarize students with the country’s recent past and encourage them to reflect on the value of freedom, peace, and the preservation of historical memory.

“The purpose of this lesson is for students to learn about the recent history of our country and reflect on the importance of freedom, peace, and historical memory,” the letter states.

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Following the publication of the PISA 2025 results, the Network of Civil Society Organizations for Pre-University Education called for education to be granted national emergency status. According to ROSCAP, the data from this assessment must be followed by concrete and measurable measures.

The request was made during a roundtable held in Pristina, attended by representatives of institutions, municipalities, schools, the trade union, parents and civil society.

Education Minister Hajrulla Çeku said that attention should focus on solutions rather than on determining who is responsible for the problems in education.

“For a long time, we have focused on the question of who is to blame. Now we must ask: What do we do now?” Çeku said, according to a statement from ROSCAP, as reported by KosovaPress.

Çeku called for an examination of how the education budget is used and stressed the need to protect employment in schools from political-party influence.

He also announced the introduction of a state examination for entry into the teaching profession and called for the role of the profession to be strengthened.

According to the minister, the shortcomings of the education system become more apparent in the classroom. He said the curriculum is overloaded and that students still rely mainly on memorization.

The minister announced a gradual transition to full-day learning, as well as changes to improve the curriculum. He called for a social agreement on education that would stand above political parties and government mandates.

Participants said that the PISA results should not be viewed as an objective in themselves, but as a reflection of the state and problems of the system. Their demands included a review of the curriculum, improvements to the assessment process and the development of reading skills.

The roundtable also called for advancing the professional development of teachers, increasing attendance and improving school infrastructure.

ROSCAP urged institutions to also take into account the demands of the twelve thousand five hundred and twenty-six citizens who had signed the Petition to Save Education, submitted to the Assembly in March 2024.

As a conclusion to the discussions, a document containing recommendations and conclusions for central institutions, municipalities and schools will be prepared. According to the statement, the document is expected to be published soon.

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Acting Minister of Education and Science Hajrulla Çeku stressed that the education reform process must move faster, while building a quality system requires the engagement of all stakeholders.

During a meeting with representatives of educational institutions, trade unions, universities, parents, students and pupils, agreement was reached on coordinating actions within the framework of the education reform, Çeku announced.

He announced that the new Education Strategy 2035+ is being prepared, with the aim of ensuring quality education from early childhood through university, as well as strengthening the knowledge and competencies essential for the country’s development.

The discussions also covered preparations for the start of the new school year, the early childhood education curriculum, the review of school textbooks and the profiling of universities.

Çeku stated that such meetings would be organized regularly to ensure continuous coordination during the implementation of education reforms.

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The new school year in Kosovo will begin without delays, on September 1.

The United Education, Science and Technology Trade Union (SBAShK) has assured that teachers are fully prepared for the start of classes.

However, as the start date approaches, the union has raised its voice over a problem that has persisted for years. Ymer Ymeri, SBAShK’s secretary, expressed surprise at claims in some municipalities that a number of teachers are being treated as a “technological surplus.”

According to him, this label is incomprehensible, particularly in municipalities where vacancies for teachers are continuously announced and new staff are hired. He suggested that the real aim may be to silence critical voices.

Regarding the progress of the educational process, Ymeri confirmed that, according to the data available to the union, all educational institutions are ready to welcome students. The teachers they represent have already begun reporting to schools, while preparations have been completed at most facilities. At some other schools, renovation work is in its final phase, indicating that classes will begin as planned.

The union leader also expressed hope for a smooth process of subsidizing textbooks, adding that students should not face delays in receiving the books they need.

He put an end to any speculation about possible strike action by the union, expressing confidence that their demands would be seriously considered by the central authorities.

The Ministry of Education has also given similar assurances, confirming to Klankosova.tv that September 1 remains the unchanged date for the start of classes.

Meanwhile, the Parents’ Council has reiterated its concerns and dissatisfaction, particularly regarding the way the book-subsidy process is being carried out, as well as other demands which, according to them, have been ignored by the Ministry of Education and Science.

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Albania continues to finance education at significantly lower levels than the countries of the European Union. In 2023, public spending on education in the country accounted for just 2.9% of Gross Domestic Product, compared with the EU average of 4.7%, according to Eurostat data.

The difference amounts to 1.8 percentage points of GDP. In relative terms, the share of spending on education in the Albanian economy was around 38% lower than the European average.

To reach the EU average, Albania would need to increase education funding by around 60% relative to the size of its economy.

If included in the ranking of the 27 member states, Albania would have the lowest level of education spending.

According to Eurostat, Romania was at the bottom of the EU ranking, with 3% of GDP, followed by Greece at 3.3% and Malta at 3.4%.

On the other hand, the countries that devoted the largest share of their economies to education funding were Sweden, with 6.8% of GDP, Finland with 6.3% and Belgium with 6.2%.

Denmark spent 6.1% of GDP. Compared with Sweden, the share of spending in Albania was less than half as large.

At the European Union level, public spending on education remained unchanged at 4.7% of GDP compared with 2022.

Nevertheless, it was 0.3 percentage points lower than in 2020, when it reached 5% of GDP, the highest level since these data began to be collected in 2012.

Even compared with the Western Balkans, Albania ranks last in terms of the share of public spending allocated to education. At 2.9% of GDP, the country was around 1 percentage point below the WB6 average of 3.9%.

The latest figures used by the OECD are 4.7% for Kosovo, 4.4% for Bosnia and Herzegovina, 4.1% for Montenegro, 3.7% for North Macedonia and 3.3% for Serbia.

Eurostat statistics cover public funding for all levels, from preschool to university and doctoral education, but exclude early childhood educational development programs.

Spending includes the direct funding of educational institutions, as well as scholarships, loans and other transfers to pupils, students and their families./MONITOR

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