EDUCATION

Through the Education Programme, Save the Children aims to improve access and quality of education by promoting inclusive practices and policies in the education of boys and girls from vulnerable groups who have limited access to quality education. Our work is focused on fulfilling our global ambition for children by 2030: Inclusive access to early childhood care, development and education services; and basic education for all children, with a special focus on children with disabilities, children from minority groups, children living in poverty, and those from rural areas.

Our Strategic Objectives for Children’s Education
 

Inclusive Education

Children have access to quality inclusive education

Early Childhood Care and Development

Children have integrated access to quality and inclusive Early Childhood Care, Development and Education services

Empowerment of Kosovo Vulnerable Communities Through Better and Equal Access to the Labour Market

Girls and boys of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities are empowered with the knowledge, capacity, skills and
opportunities to transition into adulthood and dignified, decent and sustainable work

Our Education Program in Kosovo

Save the Children implements its programme in the field of education in eleven (11) municipalities and 32 villages, supporting 9 public preschool institutions and 41 schools throughout the country to improve the quality of education in Kosovo. Save the Children has also invested in the development of Early Childhood Education (ECE). As of 2024, 32 ECCD centers have been established in ten (10) municipalities of Kosovo.

Local Context

During the last decade, in agreement with international standards, Kosovo has developed a good legal framework that promotes a non-discriminatory and inclusive society. More specifically, inclusive education has been at the center of several strategies developed by the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) since 2010. Since all provisions have affected the movement of children with disabilities from special schools into compulsory education, the total number of children with disabilities of primary school age attending compulsory education continues to be low, estimated at around 40% (MESTI, 2019).

After the decentralization of the education system and the division of powers between central and local government, there are still challenges regarding responsibilities for specific issues. MESTI is responsible for drafting and monitoring educational policies, while municipalities are responsible for their implementation.

While MESTI, Save the Children in Kosovo and many other organizations have been intensively engaged in raising the awareness of parents and communities about the importance of inclusive education, and in general the stigma related to disability has decreased, now more needs to be done to raise the awareness of teachers, communities as well as policy makers about inclusive education as a fundamental right of every child.

Project Overview

This project promotes the right to education for the most marginalized children in Kosovo, focusing on inclusive education at the primary level, especially for children with disabilities; a safe school environment and raising the awareness of the authorities, the community and civil society about the child’s rights to education.

The general objectives are to increase access and improve the quality of education for children with disabilities and other marginalized communities by promoting an inclusive and participatory approach, as well as safe learning environments.

Project Objectives

• Girls and boys with disabilities enjoy their right to quality inclusive education and demonstrate the skills, attitudes and knowledge, they need to develop and progress.
• Improving access to comprehensive quality education for girls and boys with disabilities to achieve their right to quality inclusive education in 7 municipalities, through increasing the capacities of schools and municipal support mechanisms.

Local Context

The Government of Kosovo has determined that some of the main goals of the National Development Strategy of Kosovo 2030 are to increase the enrollment of girls and boys in quality and integrated early childhood education.

Based on the latest statistical publications of the Kosovo Agency of Statistics (KAS) in cooperation with Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), 32,397 children attended preschool education during the 2021-2022 school year, contributing to approximately 7% of the total number of children aged 0-5 years old that attend preschool education. Coupled with the pre-primary level - which currently stands at 88% - it demonstrates that approximately 20% of children aged 0-6 attend pre-school education.

The situation analysis of early childhood care and development shows that the municipalities lack the harmonization of integrated health, educational and social services for children aged 0-6 years old, while the age group 0-3 years old is seen as a target only for the care services provided by nurses who in fact are unequipped to deliver a holistic program.

Project Overview

Save the Children implements its ECCD project in 11 municipalities and 32 villages, supporting 9 public preschool institutions and 41 schools throughout the country, with the aim of improving the quality of education in Kosovo. Save the Children Kosova/o has also invested in the development of Early Childhood Education (ECE). By 2024, 32 ECCD centers have been established in ten municipalities of Kosovo.

Expected Outcomes

• Children 3-6 living in remote areas and marginalized communities benefit from increased access to quality & inclusive ECCD services through alternative ECCD models.
• Parents/caregivers, educators and practitioners will be capacitated to provide quality ECCD services through integrated models/approaches.
• Advocate and promote the importance of ECCD as part of a nation-wide advocacy and awareness raising campaign.

Local Context

The majority of Kosovo’s Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities reside on the margins of society, facing numerous challenges, including low educational attainment and high unemployment rates, particularly among children and youth. Current data reveals that only 28.7% of girls and 37.3% of boys from these communities enroll in upper secondary school. As a result, youth from these communities enter the labour market with subpar educational backgrounds and given their marginalization from society, they have limited hard and soft skills and little to no work experience. The underlying causes, including discrimination, language barriers, and challenging economic situations, are multiple and vary across municipalities. Additionally, Kosovo faces the lowest regional employment and women’s labor participation rates, posing a significant development challenge. The current lack of job opportunities and a supportive environment for youth from Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities adds to the economic and social challenges for Kosovo and the broader region.

Project Objective

Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in the targeted municipalities are empowered with the knowledge, capacity, skills and opportunities to transition into adulthood and dignified, decent and sustainable work.

Project Overview

The project, funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with funds of Austrian Development Cooperation overarching goal is to empower girls and boys from Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities by providing them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and opportunities for a successful transition into adulthood and dignified, sustainable work. This involves a dual approach, improving access to quality secondary education and enhancing access to vocational, on the job, and life skills training.

The initiative targets 7 municipalities (Ferizaj/Uroševac, Fushë Kosova/Kosovo Polje, Gjakova/Djakovica, Peja/Peć, Prizren, South and North Mitrovica/Južna i Severna Mitrovica) directly benefiting 12,850 young individuals, with 1,450 from the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities receiving additional support.

The project also extends its impact to 2,200 parents, 500 teachers, and 70 TPRAAN members, promoting gender equality, diversity, inclusion, and child/youth participation. Save the Children in Kosovo is implementing the project in partnership with Syri i Vizionit and Nevo Koncepti.

Expected Outcomes

1. By June 2026, 1050 girls and boys of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities at high risk of dropping out in targeted schools and municipalities complete their lower secondary education.
2. By June 2026, 400 young girls and boys from Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in target municipalities acquire the skills to access the labour market and/or further education confidently.