The educational system of Kosovo is broken and it’s about time for someone to act. Everyone wants a high school diploma and everyone wants to pass the “Matura National Exam.”Everyone wants a university degree, because they think it will lead to a job.
The National Matura Exam is a test that every high school student must pass during their last semester or they will not receive a diploma. In 2008, 44.7 percent passed the test, while in 2013, that number reached 74.5 percent. This year more than 46,000 graduates from high schools across Kosovo took the test, only to show the many flaws embedded in the system. The first round was criticized heavily amid reports of cheating. Students even managed to take a picture of the tests and post them on Facebook, or communicate with friends to get the answers through different phone applications. The same issues were reported for the final exam for elementary students. The second round of exams was followed by a tender and the selection of a company to ensure security and prevent cheating. Despite the additional oversight, including monitors from BIRN, cheating persisted.
At the University of Prishtina, the number of students in 2007 reached 27,000, while the number doubled to over 55,000 students in 2013. Even though the number of graduates was around 4,000 students, it is a clear indication quantity is being favored over quality.
Having attended the public educational system from elementary school to master studies at the University of Prishtina, and going through the private educational system as well, I’ve seen the problems first hand as well as the failed efforts at reform. We cheated then, and we are still cheating now. The main difference is that it’s much easier to cheat now thanks to smartphones.
So why do we scheme or cheat our way into everything, be it be work or education? Just When a job announcement is posted the average person thinks: Do I know someone who knows someone? This all stems from basic education, where kids have to fight to get all As because their parents expect them to be stellar in every topic, despite their talents or interests. Does this reflect on where the country is now today? Doubting the system, the government, the justice, the elections? Are we shutting the doors to talent?
Strong economies of the world are competing for talent and are applying for different visas. When tech giants move towards different areas of the world, they index countries based on metrics like age, skills and education. The young population and their English skills are key, however it’s not enough to attract foreign investment and even support local development of businesses towards international markets.
How do we change something so deeply entrenched in the system? Reforms are being made and different organizations are working with politicians and educational leaders to break down the barriers. International organizations are supporting the country’s education every year with different solutions and ideas. The U.S. Agency for International Development has awarded World Learning with a contract to implement the $30 million Transformational Leadership Scholarships and Partnerships Program. The five-year program aims to train a new generation of Kosovar leaders to drive significant change in economic, political, and social areas. The hope is that this will strengthen the country’s universities and enable the building of future generations of leaders. But in the meantime, Kosovo must pursue aggressive reforms on the education system from the inside. The country’s success depends on it.