30.05.2024

The Minister for Communities and Returns, Nenad Rašić, today held an important meeting with the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Kosovo, Mary Ann Hennessey. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss and consult on potential projects that could be initiated by the Ministry of Communities and Return to strengthen the educational system for non-majority communities in Kosovo.

Given the fact that Kosovo is a country with a diverse ethnic composition, where different communities live besides the Albanian majority, including Serbs, Bosniaks, Turks, Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians, improving the educational system for these non-majority communities is essential for their full integration in society and for the promotion of social cohesion. The meeting between Minister Rašić and Mary Ann Hennessey focused on identifying the specific needs of these communities and how these needs can be addressed through joint projects.

During the meeting, several potential projects aimed at strengthening the educational system within non-majority communities were discussed, such as:

Intercultural Exchange Programs where pupils and teachers from different communities will have the opportunity to visit each other, participate in joint activities and learn about each other's cultures and languages.

Support for Returned Families where many families who have returned to Kosovo face multiple challenges, including integration into the education system.

The Head of the Office of the Council of Europe, Mary Ann Hennessey, expressed the readiness of the organization to support these projects, providing funds, training and technical expertise.

During the meeting, Hennessey emphasized the importance of cooperation between Kosovo institutions and international organizations to ensure that projects are successful and have a lasting impact. She also emphasized that improving the educational system for non-majority communities is an important step towards achieving European standards of education and human rights. The discussed projects have a great potential to change the lives of non-majority communities in Kosovo. Improving the educational system can help reduce inequalities, increase the participation of these communities in public life and improve relations between different ethnic group. 

The meeting between the Minister for Communities and Return Nenad Rašić , and the Head of the Office of the Council of Europe, Mary Ann Hennessey, represents an important step towards improving the educational system for non-majority communities in Kosovo. The projects discussed have the potential to bring about positive and sustainable changes in the lives of these communities, contributing to a fairer, more inclusive and more united society.

At the end of the meeting, Minister Rašić and Mrs. Mary Ann Hennessey agreed that the Council of Europe and the Ministry for Communities and Returns will be committed to working together to realize these projects and to ensure that all communities in Kosovo have the opportunities and support necessary to achieve their full potential. This cooperation represents an important model of partnership between local institutions and international organizations to promote the development and well-being of all citizens of Kosovo.