The Administrative Instruction No. 12/2017 on the Establishment and Functioning of Learning Centers was formally approved by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) on 25.08.2017. This Instruction establishes a formal framework for the operation of learning centers, which provide ancillary learning and educational activities for preschool and primary school students in Kosovo, in particular students from the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities. The process kicked off in March this year, in the framework of KOSINT 2020 Project, as part of public discussions on issues of sectorial reform in education for Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in Kosovo. It featured the active participation of over twenty NGOs working with learning centers across Kosovo, and it was finalized in June this year with the submission of a proposal in the form of a concrete document for the MEST to consider. We thank all the partners and colleagues who contributed to the challenging process of drafting this document, with special appreciation for the cooperation, dedication and diligence displayed by everyone in this initiative, which was difficult but so important for the student community in general, and for young students from Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in particular. The legally structured functioning of these educational spaces will provide valuable contribution to the development of children’s social and learning potential. This is a highly positive result of close cooperation among civil society organizations, and we hope to mark further achievements in the years to come.
