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| United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo | UNMIK news No. 108 | ||
| New Framework Curriculum promotes a democratic Kosovo | |||
| When teachers go back to their schools this week, one of the early tasks will be to understand the new General Curriculum Framework developed jointly by the Department of Education and Science (DES) and UNICEF. The basis of a comprehensive curriculum reform in the Kosovo educational system for pre-school, primary and secondary schools, it is designed for all children of Kosovo. Recognizing the concerns and aspirations of Kosovo's ethnic communities, it foresees teaching in different languages. The overall curriculum, however, will be unified. As elsewhere, curriculum reform aims to improve the quality and equity of education services for all students. Here in Kosovo it also has to bring the education system in line with the most recent trends and issues that are at the core of progressive educational systems in other parts of the world. The new curriculum framework will therefore reflect: o the pluralistic and multicultural composition of Kosovo society; o recent developments in science, culture and education, as well as democratic developments in society and new trends in the labour market; o a "student friendly" environment where students are able to focus on achieving their possibilities, interests and aspirations, and are offered a wide range of valuable education experiences which should contribute to realizing their full potential; o reasonable balance between common requirements and the individualization of teaching; o the need to develop higher-order intellectual skills in students, inquisitiveness and critical thinking; o integrated and holistic learning, in order to assist students to understand the complex issues of interconnections, characterizing humanity's present knowledge about the world; o a constructive approach to the planning of school activities, offering a general orientation of teachers, education authorities, parents and other stakeholders; o a broad consultation process involving professional educators, schools, families, students, education authorities, media, representatives of communities, business and civil society; and o the principle of an autonomous and accountable school which is able to develop its own profile. The framework embodies education that society considers valuable and important to be offered to students in school. It focusses on promoting effective ways to organize these experiences, as well as to examine the attainment of desired purposes. The formulation of education goals also takes into account the new opportunities offered to Kosovo society after the conflict, in terms of democratic development, new economic opportunities and openness towards the world. Therefore, one of the main aims of education will be the development of knowledge, attitudes and skills required in a pluralistic and democratic society, so that young people could engage competently in public affairs and be active and responsible citizens. The DES and UNICEF believe that education should help students cultivate their local, ethnic and national identities, as well as enabling them to be open to the enrichment of personal identity. They should understand that identity is not only what differentiates people, but that it also comprises what makes them part of a wider world. This will be possible on the basis of common interests and of sharing a wider sense of belonging. The idea is that students will be educated in order to make creative use of their knowledge and skills in different situations and new contexts. They should be helped to develop responsibility for themselves, for others, for society and for the environment. This implies awareness of the consequences of personal action, as well as the awareness and understanding of the responsibility of taking the initiative. Students should also be able to link theoretical knowledge to practical activities, develop a positive attitude towards learning, have the ability to apply acquired knowledge and skills to further studies in work, in public and private life. They should be helped to develop self-confidence and positive motivation, make proper use of their rights and be positive towards difference, in terms of ideas, phenomena, persons, cultures etc. In summary, education has to enable young people to contribute, with all their potential, to the reconstruction and welfare of Kosovo, while developing autonomy as responsible individuals who are able to pursue a life of personal accomplishment. |
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Statues in dispute: UNMIK supports municipal decisions |
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UNMIK fully supports the decisions of the Prizren Municipality. It hopes that a solution will soon be found, and is actively providing assistance to reach it. "This issue is not an issue about martyrs," says UNMIK Acting Regional Administrator in Prizren, Mr Kewal Sharma. "It is an open challenge to the decision of a democratically elected assembly." UNMIK's intervention has been limited to upholding what it regards as a legal decision by the Municipal Assembly. It acceded to the Municipality's request for KFOR to surround the sites with barbed wire because cement foundations had been laid on public land without construction permits. The municipal authorities suggested instead that the names of the two martyrs-Ismat Jashari-Kumanova and Xhevat Berisha-be commemorated within a proposed Memorial Complex of Prizren, which will be constructed by the Lumbardhi river. They say they are in no way obstructing people's aspirations to commemorate the war heroes-it is simply a question of location and of "how" to honour the martyrs. |
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| Briefs . . . | |||
| OSCE is running a series of workshops for women candidates for the Kosovo Assembly election. The sessions will discuss the role of women in politics and how they can contribute to democratic governance in Kosovo. The workshops aim to familiarize future women candidates on skills required to run an effective political campaign and hold office. Participants will be presented with such topics as the election process, governmental powers, the basics of campaigning, articulating goals, how to interact with the media, and raising awareness of gender-related issues. The seminars will be held in all Kosovo regions. UNMIK Customs Service has marked its second anniversary. Being the first public service set up in Kosovo after the conflict, UNMIK Customs has been universally recognized as one of the province's major success stories, and its effectiveness continues to improve. By the end of July 2001, collection rates for this year had already passed DM 200 million, while at the same time last year the figure was around DM 95 million. The service is also becoming more inclusive and multi-ethnic, with nearly 300 applications received from the Serbian community for vacancies in the North. A contract has been signed between the Pristina University and Internews, an NGO providing information technology support and training for media specialists. The contract is for a period of five years and will be suitably modified when the University establishes a Department for Media and Journalism. The Department of Environmental Protection has prepared a four-month programme-to be implemented between 20 September and 20 December 2001-aimed to raise environmental awareness in schools. A key role in implementing the project is to be played by teachers. The programme will address the following issues: building environmental consciousness; sensitivity towards nature and landscape; and hygiene. The Department of Environmental Protection has communicated to the Pristina Municipality its concerns over a number of large houses across the small valley east of Sunny Hill area whose construction appears to disregard accepted environmental norms. The soil from the excavation works is being disposed in the adjacent valley, which hinders the free flow of surface water and compromises the slope stability. The western side of the valley is a densely populated area, making these developments hazardous. At the request of UNMIK, police have disconnected some 12 villages from the Albanic Water Treatment Plant transmission pipe. It has done so because the villages established illegal connections and were taking water destined for Pristina, thus considerably weakening the water pressure in the pipe. In a move to protect the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) from accusations of involvement in military activities, a KPC member is to be dismissed from the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC). Mr Sami Lushtaku was earlier suspended from the KPC following his naming on a U.S. Presidential Executive Order issued on 27 June 2001. Under the terms of his suspension, he was forbidden to enter KPC facilities and his authorization to carry a weapon was revoked. On 13 August, Mr Lushtaku was witnessed visiting a KPC facility in Skenderaj/Srbica where he was seen to be armed with an automatic pistol. Accordingly, it has been determined by UNMIK and KFOR that Mr Lushtaku has contravened the conditions of his suspension and must be dismissed from the KPC. A letter from UNMIK to this effect was delivered to KPC Deputy Commander Sulejman Selimi. The Euro Working Group, chaired by Deputy SRSG Andy Bearpark, is examining issues that still need to be addressed to ensure a smooth transition to the new currency on 1 January 2002, including re-intensification of the effort to inform the people of Kosovo about the euro's arrival. The BPK and CFA's measures include: the provision and transport of the cash; development of invoicing procedures and electronic payment of salaries; enacting legal instruments, particularly the draft regulation on money laundering, which will help prevent attempts of criminal elements to capitalize on the euro changeover. People were again urged to open bank accounts as money in banks will be changed into euro automatically. Under an umbrella Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the Co-Directors of the Department of Health and Social Welfare and their Slovenian counterparts, the Department would co-operate with Slovenian Ministry of Health and the Chamber of Physicians in medical care, training of health professionals, health research, public health and quality control of medical drugs. Both parties agreed to work out a list of concrete collaborative activities. Arrangements to transfer responsibility for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) from the UN Mine Action Co-ordination Centre to the Department of Civil Security and Emergency Preparedness, starting from 15 December 2001, have been finalized. The training of seven EOD teams of the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) has begun, with some 120 KPC officers expected to be trained during three weeks on basic humanitarian mine clearance procedures. The course will be followed by on-the-job training with participation of different NGOs currently engaged in mine clearing operations. With the rehabilitation of the Sports Federations building now completed, sports federations that have been recognized by the Department of Sports will be allocated space there. The Department will also initiate a capacity building programme to improve the technical and managerial capabilities of the federations, which will cover such areas as sports management, computer training, and financial management. The Department of Local Administration has recommended nine projects to be implemented in eight municipalities using part of the money from a DM 1 million grant provided by the German Government. The projects-valued at more than DM 351,000-are related to infrastructure development, supporting income generation and training of minority women, and economic development. The funds have also paid for a trip by schoolchildren from Lipjan/Lipljan municipality to Brezovica for a one-week camp. Overall, some 7,000 people representing all ethnic minority communities in Kosovo will be direct beneficiaries of these projects. The Working Group on Employment and Training
of Disabled of the Department of Labour and Employment is working
on the "Comprehensive Disability Policy Framework for Kosovo".
It has agreed to define the terminology according to international
terms and definitions used and accepted by disabled environment/society,
prepare classification of all groups of disabled and criteria for
assessing their ability to work, draw up a questionnaire for all
groups of disabled, and work out recommendations for respective
institutions responsible for enhancement of employability of disabled. UNMIK News is a publication of the Division of Public Information, UNMIK Pristina - Tel: (381.38) 501.395-402 Ext. 5610, email: ellwood@un.org |
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