Strengthening democratic competencies in schools in Kosovo.

Report on intensive workshop days in Pristina.

On March 28-29 2022, the third workshop of the EDISON Kosovo project took place. Organised by Veton Sylhasi from Pristina and Martin Retzl from the department IPE, Zurich, the overall objectives of this project (implemented by PH Zurich/Department IPE together with the Kosovo Education Centre KEC in coordination with the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation MESTI and the respective municipalities) are to strengthen the democratic competencies in schools in Kosovo and to stimulate and implement relevant developments in local schools according to participatory democratic principles.

On the first day of the workshop, team members from the participating schools went through a process of reflection and shared practical experiences in gathering ideas for action from different stakeholders. The second day was dedicated to skills acquisition and the practical application of the next steps. On this day, an intervention logic was introduced through simulating a participatory project-planning process. Based on this hands-on experience, participants will now be prepared to return to their schools and conduct the participatory planning process with their stakeholders. Project experts will provide ongoing support to schools throughout this period.

EDISON (Experience Democracy in Schools Now) is funded by the Community Fund of the of the Canton of Zurich and will run until the end of 2023. Participating schools will go through a 5-step democratic/participatory ‘learning on the job’ development process (a combination of knowledge acquisition, practical application and reflection on the practical experience). In the process, concrete changes/adaptations or innovations are initiated and implemented in the schools.

For further information, see the local project Facebook site:

https://www.facebook.com/EDISON-Experience-Democracy-in-Schools-Now-106464414411488

Teams of participating principals.

Project leaders Veton Sylhasi and Martin Retzl.