MINORITY EDUCATION POLICY IN KOSOVO – THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND PARALLEL SYSTEMS OF EDUCATION

Abstract

In a multi-ethnic Kosovo society, under national legislation, various international and regional regulations are applied in the fi eld of minorities’ linguistic rights. The Law on Use of Languages in Kosovo assures not only the equal rights for the usage of either of the two offi cial languages (Serbian and Albanian), but also their usage in the educational systems. This paper analyzes the existing legal mechanisms for the protection of minority language rights in the Albanian educational system in Kosovo, as well as their implementation in practice. Even though the parallel existence of Serbian and Albanian educational systems has enabled these communities to have an education in their respective mother tongues, it has also contributed to a deeper division between the two primary ethnic groups living in the territory of Kosovo. Although the law guarantees that other ethnic communities in Kosovo have the right to an education in their own native language, the actual practice in certain specific examples does not follow the law. Additionally, the author points out other obstacles faced by ethnic communities in Kosovo, as well as the necessity to change the current educational language policy in Albanian and Serbian schools.