One day after the results for ninth-grade students were made public, the enrollment competition for 10th grade has opened. The process began today and will remain open until July 9.

According to data published by the Ministry of Education, more than 21,000 students sat the Achievement Test this year, while the nationwide average stood at 48.35%, or below 50%. The best performance was recorded in English language, history and Albanian language. On the other hand, the weakest results were recorded in Chemistry and Mathematics, followed by Biology, Physics, Informatics and Geography. Education experts assess that these results reflect the same trend as in previous years.

“The results are the same as in the previous testing and there is no substantial change. A downward trend in performance is noticeable, especially in the Albanian language, and this shows the need for greater attention from institutions to ensure that students are acquiring the proper knowledge in these key areas,” says education expert Rinor Qehaja.

However, school leaders say their focus remains on working toward the highest possible student results.

“Every year we also conduct an internal achievement test. As the testing period comes to an end, we carry out a thorough analysis of the results, and we also analyze the scores from the achievement test. Then, we do these analyses again in August, when we assess the results from the previous year, and they help us identify setbacks and review achievements,” said Visar Osmani, director of the ‘Emin Duraku’ school.

The Ministry of Education and Science has also underlined that the Achievement Test results provide a picture of the level of competency acquisition by students at the end of lower secondary education and that they will serve as a basis for identifying priorities and planning measures to improve quality in education.

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Special guests from Washington took part in the event, including Professor Daniel Serwer, Professor Edward Joseph, an expert on the Western Balkans, Albanian-American Besa Pinchotti, and strategist Major Mario Marquez.

In addition to the delegation from Washington, D.C., those attending the forum included mayors from municipalities in the Prizren region, as well as political figures from Kosovo, while the discussions emphasized the support the United States of America has given Kosovo both during periods of crisis and in times of peace.

“The contribution of the American state to humanity has always been an unwavering conviction that freedom, democracy, justice, and human integrity are values that protect not only Americans, but all peoples around the world,” declared Prizren Mayor Shaqir Totaj.

During the forum, Professor Edward Joseph, an expert on the Western Balkans, and Professor Daniel Serwer focused on some of the difficulties Kosovo faces in its efforts to join important international organizations.

“Kosovo’s future is in NATO. For Kosovo, the four countries that do not recognize its independence pose an obstacle, but this is the path that leads Kosovo toward the European Union and toward international subjectivity,” Joseph stressed.

“We are in a situation where the United States is not defending democracy within its own country and cannot always defend it in the international arena. This presents a major challenge for Kosovo. Secretary Rubio said clearly in Congress that Kosovo’s NATO membership is not on the agenda. Therefore, you need to work to make it part of the agenda,” Daniel Serwer said.

Meanwhile, Mario Marquez assessed that, despite the international obstacles that may slow this process, the citizens of Kosovo themselves hold in their hands the building of a better future, and he added that he is very proud of that.

Albanian-American Besa Pinchotti said she is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States in Kosovo with great pride.

In honor of this important day for the United States, a series of activities is being organized in Kosovo.

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Responding to journalists’ questions on the issue, she said the competent institutions and field experts should make a careful assessment of the benefits, costs, and effects such a project could bring to citizens and to the Republic of Kosovo.

“Whether Kosovo should accept American gas or not is not a matter of ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers. It is very important for there to be discussions at the level of the responsible institutions and experts, so that the benefits, costs, and other aspects related to this project can be analyzed,” she said.

Haxhiu underlined that Kosovo has never rejected projects that are in the interest of its citizens and the state, but stressed that issues of this strategic nature require serious discussions and decisions supported by professional analysis.

According to her, Kosovo’s institutions continue to remain open to dialogue and to considering all possibilities, while she noted that Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli is already dealing with this issue.

“We have not closed the door to serious discussions. We are open to discussing this. Minister Rizvanolli has discussed this issue and is working in this direction. We should give the responsible institutions the opportunity to provide the final answer,” Haxhiu said.

She also reacted to criticism over the way Kosovo’s institutions have approached this project, rejecting the idea that considering other energy alternatives could be presented as a stance against the United States of America.

“If Kosovo sees another solution as better, why should it be criticized and why should the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo be considered anti-American? Kosovo’s institutions work for the interests of citizens and support projects that are in favor of the Republic of Kosovo and its citizens. This should not be seen as anti-Americanism,” Haxhiu declared.

She added that framing the debate over the gas project in political terms serves neither Kosovo nor its partnership with the United States.

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