Challenges Persist in Addressing School Dropout Rates in Kosovo’s Education System

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has released a new in-depth report shedding light on the ongoing challenges in tackling school dropout rates within the country’s education system.

Entitled ‘School Dropout: Behind the Numbers of Dropouts from Compulsory Education in the Kosovo System 2020-2023,’ the report delves beyond mere statistics to uncover the complex realities behind dropout trends.

According to the report, despite commendable efforts by the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), issues persist, particularly among children from vulnerable communities such as the Kosovo Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptians.

The analysis includes data on over 400 individual cases of school abandonment across Kosovo between 2020 and 2023, highlighting the various factors contributing to dropouts and the measures taken, if any, to reintegrate these children back into the education system.

Significantly, the report reveals that socioeconomic conditions and discrimination intensify the dropout phenomenon, posing substantial barriers to educational attainment for many young learners.

Notably, MESTI data indicates that 43% of school dropouts come from the Ashkali community, another 43% from the Egyptian community, 13% from the Roma community, and 1% from the majority community.

Michael Davenport, the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, emphasized the urgent need for collaborative and systematic interventions to address early school leaving and build a more inclusive education system in Kosovo.

Concluding the report are a series of targeted recommendations for MESTI, municipal education directorates, schools, and NGOs, underscoring the importance of coordinated efforts to combat dropout rates and enhance educational opportunities for all children in Kosovo.