Prishtina, 20 March, 2023
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, accompanied by the Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mrs. Arbërie Nagavci and the Minister of Regional Development, Fikrim Damka, visited the “Elena Gjika” Lower Secondary Primary School, marking the anniversary of teaching in the Turkish language.
Today, when it has been 72 years since the citizens of Kosovo had the opportunity to learn in the Turkish language, Prime Minister Kurti said that he feels proud of this long tradition of multilingualism in our country and the opportunity for children in Kosovo to learn in their own language native
In front of the teaching staff of this school, Prime Minister Kurti said they are happy that the government has found a solution to provide quality textbooks in the Turkish language. Also, he mentioned the Education Strategy for the years 2022-2026, which includes continuous subsidies for the design, revision, translation and adaptation of textbooks and other materials in the Turkish language, but also in the languages of other non-majority communities living in Republic of Kosovo.
“We will also provide opportunities for students to learn languages such as the Turkish language for Albanians here in Pristina, because we need to learn each other’s languages. We understand better and cooperate more. Both individuals and the state benefit more from the advantages in the international market, as well as solidarity at the level of the Republic when people have the opportunity to communicate with each other”, said Prime Minister Kurti.
Thanking the school staff, the teachers, but also the students for their dedication to education, he said that he believes that they will learn a lot to contribute to themselves, to the family, to the community and to Kosovo more broadly, but also beyond our borders.
Prime Minister Kurti’s speech during the visit to the “Elena Gjika” Lower Secondary Primary School
Thank you very much Deputy Director Glloboder,
Dear Ministers, Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mrs. Arbërie Nagavci and Minister of Regional Development, Mr. Fikrim Damka,
Dear members of the Assembly, Mr. Enis Kervan and Mrs. Fidan Jilta,
Dear teaching staff,
Dear students,
Good morning and Günaydın,
Today marks 72 years since the citizens of Kosovo had the opportunity to learn in the Turkish language. We are proud of this long tradition of multilingualism in our country and the opportunity for children in Kosovo to learn in their mother tongue.
We are happy that for years our government has found a solution to provide educational textbooks, including those that are of high quality and in the Turkish language. As well as the Education Strategy for the years 2022-2026 include continuous subsidies for the drafting, revision, translation and adaptation of textbooks and other materials in the Turkish language, but also in the languages of other non-majority communities living in the Republic of Kosovo.
We also plan to organize learning activities for the communities, based on teaching materials and other materials that represent a necessity for professional support for schools where these opportunities are also offered in the Albanian language, that is, in the language of the majority population. We hope that these will help all the material, both printed and digital, that they need for the highest quality education in this school and in all other schools in Kosovo to have easy and quick access for all students .
We will also provide opportunities for students learning languages such as the Turkish language for Albanians here in Pristina, because we need to learn each other’s languages. We understand better and cooperate more. Both individuals and the state benefit from advantages in the international market as well as solidarity at the level of the Republic when people have the opportunity to communicate with each other.
But before we learn each other’s languages, we all know that we must be confident in our own language and that the best education is in the mother tongue.
[The school bell rings] I believe that even though the bell rang we can continue. When I was a student when the bell rang it would either start or end, but now it continues.You have this opportunity and we will protect your right. We believe that you will learn a lot to contribute to yourself, to your family, to your community and to Kosovo more broadly, but also beyond our borders.
I also thank you as school staff, as teachers, as students for your dedication to education.
Together we are celebrating the fact that in Kosovo there are these opportunities for education in the mother tongue that inspires children as much as possible.
As Nelson Mandela said, “If you speak to someone in a language that he or she understands, the message is conveyed to his or her brain. But if you speak to someone in their native language, then the message is conveyed to his or her heart.”
So, not only congratulations and thanks, but also Tebrikiler and Teşekkür.
Last modified: March 20, 2023