In October 2022, with the financial support from the European Union in partnership with UNICEF, ECMI started the implementation of the project “Supporting Continued Access to and Retention in Public Education in 15 municipalities in Kosovo”.

The project’s primary objectives involve providing comprehensive training to school teams across primary and lower secondary and upper secondary levels to proactively prevent student dropouts. Training sessions for upper secondary school prevention teams focus on imparting knowledge about the Administrative Instruction and pertinent legal requirements that demand prompt team responses in real-time situations. These sessions also encompass the delineation of roles, mandates, and tasks for School dropout prevention teams at upper secondary schools.

For existing teams at primary and lower secondary levels, training revolves around practical engagement with real cases. The primary aim is to skillfully and timely identify and recognize challenges specific to each case and then resolve them using the dropout prevention procedures outlined in Kosovo’s response system.

Furthermore, the project meticulously analyses the situation within the 15 municipalities involved. Insights gathered from direct consultations with MEDs, school managers, teachers, and students drive the preparation of Draft Municipal Action Plans. These plans, developed in collaboration with MEDs and MESTI, will be designed to curtail dropout rates.

The plans encompass initiatives that effectively tackle concerns such as fading educational interest, child labour, children in street situation, career guidance obstacles, and other relevant issues, all aligned with children’s well-being and best interests.

Commencing from October 18, 2022, the project’s operational timeline extends through November 30, 2024. Within this duration, the project focuses on providing comprehensive training to school teams and formulating strategies to curtail student attrition.