Life in Kosovo discusses about emergency situations
Tonight, Life in Kosovo will broadcast a debate on the emergency situations in our country.
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Every Thursday starting from 20:30, Radio Television Kosovo, RTK, broadcasts the TV debate show "Life in Kosovo", a joint production of BIRN and RTK.
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BIRN launches annual report on monitoring of education system
11 June 2009
BIRN revealed the findings of its year-long project monitoring primary schools, high schools and the public University of Prishtina at a conference on Tuesday, June 10.
Some of the major problems identified by the monitors in the report include a low level of knowledge among students, a lack of adequate books, overcrowded classes, violence in schools, the use of narcotics in schools and private lessons organised by teachers for their students. The analitic report on the University of Prishtina revealed insufficient work placements, a lack of adequate literature, non-objective evaluation methods and bad professor-student relations.
Fatmire Tërdevci, project manager, presented the report on elementary and high schools and its findings. Following this presentation, a panel discussion on the weaknesses of the educational system, moderated by BIRN Kosovo Director Jeta Xharra, discussed these findings and recommendations.
The discussion panel consisted of:
Nehat Mustafa, adviser to the Minister of Education;
Jonuz Salihaj, education expert;
Melinda Mula, senior program development officer from Kosovo Educational Centre;
Avdullah Alija, director of department for higher education in the Ministry of Education;
Adnan Dragaj, adviser to the Minister of Education;
Jehona Lushaku, assistant professor at University of Prishtina;
Enver Hasani, rector of the University of Prishtina;
Fatmire Tërdevci, project manager;
Isa Gacaferi, monitor in Peja region;
Valdrin Beka, monitor in Ferizaj region;
Krenare Maloku, researcher and BIRN Kosovo program manager;
Faton Ademi, monitor in regions of Mitrovica, Vushtrri and Skenderaj,
Jusuf Thaçi, BIRN education monitor and author of the report on the University of Prishtina.
According to the findings of this report, the low level of knowledge among students is one of the major concerns in the education system. A television report prepared by monitors revealed how one high school graduate could not read a full sentence. The report also revealed a low level of knowledge among teachers too, which impacted on student learning.
Another key problem identified by the report was a lack of text books for high schools and professional schools. Elementary schools, however, had too many text books, which were often inadequate for teaching levels as well as the age of students.
The discussion also focused on the implications of overcrowded classes, where in extreme cases the number of students in a class went as high as 45 or 47. This means that because of the lack of space, schools have to work in two, three or four shifts, and because of this, lesson last just 30 minutes.
A television report showed how a headmaster had to adapt a room within the school into a make-shift safe to keep the attendance records and school reports after a string of thefts. According to the report, violence in schools can be placed into three categories: violence among students, teachers using violence on their students, and violence towards students by a third party from outside of the school – in most cases young troublemakers.
Regarding drugs in schools, the report expressed concern that there was a widespread phenomenon of drug usage among high school and elementary school students. According to interviews conducted for monitoring purposes, the much-coveted Sami Frashëri high school in Pristina came out as the one of the most severely affected by this negative phenomenon. Marijuana use, it is suggested, is regarded as normal.
According to panelists, maths, physics, chemistry and English language teachers tend to organise private lessons in school premises or in their own houses. This causes inequality between students because students who attend private lessons are favoured when it comes to assessments.
The conference then discussed the situation in the University of Pristina and problems identified there.
Out of all issues included in the report, the fact that modern methods of lecturing and assessment were not implemented by professors appeared to be the key problem which directly influenced the quality of studies, according to students.
The second major problem, according to the report, was the lack of work placements. The University of Pristina should secure agreements with various institutions to provide students with work experience.
On top of concerns about the objectivity of professors when assessing and evaluating written and oral exams, the report also revealed that there were technical problems regarding assessments. These included the exam schedules, delays, the use of identical exam questions and papers etc.
The public was then given the opportunity to raise questions or comment on the findings of the report.
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The report on the process of judicial appointments and reappointments analysis the flow of this process, specifically focusing on the bright and dark sides that have marred the process to its final stages.
COURT MONITORING ANNUAL REPORT APRIL 2010 - FEBRUARY 2011
Court monitoring report is published as a result of a continuous monitoring of all municipal and districts courts of Kosovo. The findings of this report are based on the monitoring of 2,147 court hearings, by BIRN monitors.
THE PROCESS OF JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS
This report presents the results of part of BIRN's court monitoring project, specifically on the process for the appointment and reappointment of judges and prosecutors.
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Courts Monitoring Report 2010
A detailed analytical report about the work and administration of the courts in Prishtina, Peja, Prizren, Gjilan, Mitrovica, Ferizaj, Gjakova, Decan, Vushtrri, Poduleva, Lipjan, Klina and Istog. The report contains important information, collected by the network of monitors, placed in the major municipalities of Kosovo and aims to identify the key problems and issues that the justice system in Kosovo is facing.
REPORT: Monitoring the Courts 2009
Monitoring the work and administration of courts in Prishtina, Peja, Mitrovica, Gjilan, Ferizaj, Vushtrri and Skenderaj.
DIRECTLY ELECTED MAYOR SYSTEM IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE
The report on Directly Elected mayor System in Local Governance aims to provide a critical overview of the rationale and feasibility of the implementation of a municipal governance system that places the mayor as the central executive figure, during the third year of its application. The efficiency of this system was assessed based on the following pillars: the relationship between local government bodies, accountability of the municipal executive, respect for the law, the link between the mayor and the citizens, provision of public services (water supply and waste management, capital investments (in school and road projects)), level of transparency, public consultation and citizen participation in decision-making.
BIRN Report on Monitoring the Education System
Report on monitoring the elementary and high schools in Prishtina: Mitrovica, Ferizaj, Peja and Gjilan
Analytical report of the situation and the problems in the University of Prishtina
Report on Kosovo`s Healthcare System
Monitoring report on all primary, secondary and tertiary (University Clinical Center of Kosovo, UCCK) healthcare institutions in Pristina, Prizren, Peja, Mitrovica, Gjilan, Ferizaj, Gjakova, Klina, Decan, Istog and Vushtrri.
Situation and the Problems at the University of Prishtina
Analytical report of research into the standards and problems at the University of Prishtina. Ten years since the end of the war in Kosovo, the University of Prishtina (UP) continues to suffer from a variety of problems, resulting in persistently low quality courses being offered. For this reason, BIRN conducted research into the problems faced by UP students. The data gathered suggests that, out of the many issues reported, the most significant are: the non-implementation of contemporary teaching and assessment methods, the lack of practical work for students, the lack of appropriate academic literature, arbitrary assessments by
professors and generally poor relationships between students and their professors.
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The opinions expressed in Balkan Insight are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network.
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