Moments from the recently concluded Universal Children’s Day Conference, held on 20th November 2023, in conjunction with the commencement of Kosovo Week for Prevention of School Dropout at Pre-University Education, orchestrated a powerful platform for dialogue and action. Hosted by MESTI Ministria e Arsimit, Shkencës, Teknologjisë dhe Inovacionit and supported by ECMI Kosova as part of the “Supporting Continued Access to and Retention in Public Education in 15 municipalities in Kosovo” project, the conference unfolded at the prestigious “ARMATA” Cinema in Prishtina.

The event welcomed the Children’s Council representatives from all seven regions of Kosovo, providing an invaluable opportunity for these young minds to amplify their concerns, aspirations, and demands.

The core objective was to grant children an unfiltered voice, enabling them to articulate their apprehensions while advocating for their needs to be acknowledged and addressed. Throughout the conference, these young delegates eloquently expressed a multitude of pressing issues affecting their educational landscape. The range of concerns encompassed inadequacies in grading and evaluation, the early erosion of learning habits among students, disruptive behaviors that impede the educational process, and the detrimental influence of certain students on their peers.

A prevailing theme highlighted the adverse impact of various factors, such as excessive time spent in leisure activities like coffee consumption, tobacco, and substance use. Additionally, the children underscored the role of unprepared and inappropriate behavior by some professors, contributing significantly to the hindrance of the educational journey.

Remarkably, the conference’s success was evident in the proactive engagement of Project Team experts and esteemed University Professor of Psychology, Mr. Arian Musliu. These experts provided comprehensive responses to the children’s queries, offering valuable insights and guidance to address the identified challenges.

The resounding success of the conference lay not only in acknowledging the concerns but in initiating steps toward meaningful change. It stands as a testament to the significance of listening to the voices of children and actively incorporating their perspectives into policy-making and educational reform initiatives.

This activity is part of the “Supporting Continued Access to and Retention in Public Education in 15 municipalities in Kosovo” Project, which is financially supported by USAID Kosovo in partnership with Unicef Kosovo Programme.