The education has a key role in identity-building and in multi-ethnic societies it is an important instrument for managing differences, said the EU Ambassador to Serbia Michael Davenport at the presentation of the study on possibilities for improving the teaching and learning Serbian as a non-native language in municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja.
“This study is very important and I think that research results and recommendations based on it would improve the teaching and learning of Serbian as a non-native language in municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja,“ added Davenport at the press conference which presented the study, whose drafting was financed by the EU through the EU Progress project.
One of the Study’s goals was to paint a well-documented picture about the level of knowledge and problems met in learning Serbian as a non-native language in three municipalities in southern Serbia. The main finding is that the knowledge of pupils in primary schools in these municipalities is not at a satisfactory level, despite all of them believing that the knowledge of Serbian language can be useful to them in the future, either for formal reasons (education, employment in state institutions or in their daily affairs), or in everyday communication.
“Learning Serbian as a non-native language can contribute to adequate representation of Albanian minority in state management or public administration, including judiciary and police,” explained Ambassador Davenport.
When it comes to necessities related to learning Serbian as a non-native language, according to the opinion of all experts cited in the Study, it is necessary to improve the quality of teaching aids, train the teachers who teach a non-native language, especially by enabling teachers to constantly upgrade their expert knowledge in the fields of teaching techniques and using state of the art teaching aids, stimulating contact of pupils with the live language and use peer company for learning the language.
Speaking of minority rights in Serbia, Ambassador Davenport said that Serbian legislation includes commendable regulations aimed at improving the protection of ethnic minority rights.
“They have improved in recent years. However, the implementation of these laws is not always satisfactory and problems that emerge in their execution in practice have to be resolved,” added the Ambassador.
The Study offered useful guidelines and recommendations for further steps. Ambassador Davenport insisted: “If we want to see positive change, it is necessary to work on its implementation. The Ministry of Education and Coordination Body of the Serbian Government, relevant schools, National Council of Albanian minority, as well as the Albanian community should take matters into their own hands and start working.”
“Also, we have to have obvious plans for implementation and financing. And, most importantly, it is necessary to provide sustainability and durability of these actions which are proving to be efficient,” said the Ambassador.
The all-encompassing policy of integration brings Serbia closer to the EU, provides internal consensus on minority issues and improves relations with neighbouring countries, the Ambassador insisted, adding that the EU Delegation to Serbia welcomed the efforts of the members of the Coordination Body, as well as the support from the Ministry.
