Primary Education in the Parallel System of Kosovo (1990–1999)
Keywords:
Kosovo; Albanian education; albanian language; parallel system; YugoslaviaAbstract
Kosovo became part of the Socialist Republic of Serbia within the Yugoslav federation at the end of the Second World War in 1945. A unified curriculum was introduced across Yugoslavia by the Federal Law on Elementary and Secondary Education in 1958. The 1963 Constitution further devolved educational powers to the republics, and the 1974 Constitution elevated Kosovo to an autonomous province with its own education-making bodies. From the mid-1970s, Kosovo’s provincial assembly regulated elementary and secondary schools under an eight-grade compulsory system, and the University of Pristina operated with growing autonomy.
In March 1989, Republic of Serbia, within Yougoslavia revoked Kosovo’s autonomy and imposed Serbo-Croatian as the sole language of instruction, lead-ing to the dismissal of Albanian-language teachers and the collapse of Albanian-medium classes. From 1990 to 1999, Kosovo Albanians established a parallel education network to preserve continuity and prevent the illiteracy intended by Serbian policies. This paper examines how primary education functioned under those extraordinary conditions: the parallel curricula and teaching materials used, the financing mechanisms, and the challenges encountered by students, teachers, parents, and school leaders during this period.
References
ASA: Academy of Sciences of Albania. (1999). Kosova në vështrim enci-klopedik [Kosovo: An Encyclopedic Survey]. Tirana: Toena.
ASA: Academy of Sciences of Albania. (2008). Historia e popullit shqiptar 1939–1990 [History of the Albanian People 1939–1990], Vol. IV. Tirana: Toena.
AAS, IH: Academy of Albanological Studies, Institute of History. (2023). Historia e shqiptarëve gjatë shekullit XX [History of Albanians in the 20th Centu-ry], Vol. V. Tirana: Albanological Publications.
Ağır, B. S. (2012). Transformation of Kosovar Albanians’ Struggle from Parallelism to Armed Conflict: Why is Violence Necessary? The Turkish Yearbook of International Relations (43): Derki Park Akademik, pp. 97-138.
Avdiç, E., & Vllasi, A. (2013). Shtegu njëqindvjeçar i lirisë [A Century-Long Path of Freedom]. Prishtinë: Koha.
Clark, H. (2013). 15 Kosovo: Civil Resistance in Defense of the Nation, 1990s. Recovering Nonviolent History: Civil Resistance in Liberation Struggles, edited by Maciej J. Bartkowski, Boulder, USA: Lynne Rienner, pp. 279-296.
Durmuşçelebi, M. D., & Koro, B. (2012). Yüzyılda Kosova’da Türkçe Öğretim Programlarının Uygulanması [Implementation of Turkish-Language Cur-ricula in Kosovo over the Century]. Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 32, 137–154. Retrieved 12 Feb. 2024, from https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/219595
Duroselle, J.-B., & Kaspi, A. (2011). Historia e marrëdhënieve ndërk-ombëtare [History of International Relations], Vol. II. Prishtinë: Lira.
Frederiksen, C., Bakken, F. (2000). Libraries in Kosovo, Report of IFLA/FAIFE.
Gashi, Z. (2003). Dhuna dhe krimet serbe në shkollat e Komunës së Prisht-inës (mars–qershor 1999) [Serbian Violence and Crimes in the Schools of Pristina Municipality (Mar–Jun 1999)]. Prishtinë: Libri Shkollor.
Gjevori, M. (1998). Kujtime e shënime [Memoirs and Notes]. Prishtinë: Libri Shkollor.
Gjoshi, R. (2016). Mësimdhënia e gjuhës shqipe në Kosovë [Teaching Alba-nian in Kosovo]. Prishtinë: Armagedoni.
Gojani, K. (2009). Këshilli Komunal për Financim i Prishtinës [Pristina Mu-nicipal Financing Council]. Prishtinë.
Hajdari, A. & Bexheti, N., (2024). Albanian Press on the Efforts of Coopera-tion between Kosovo Albanians and the Bulgarians of Macedonia (1912-1914). Balkanistic Forum ‘24, (1). 58-71.
Hajrizi, F. (2011). Mitrovica dhe Shala e Bajgorës në fokusin e historisë [Mitrovica and Shala e Bajgorës in the Focus of History]. Prishtinë: Libri Shkollor.
Halimi, E., & Shala, A. (2000). Jasharët – histori e një qëndrese [The Jasha-ri Family: History of a Resistance]. Prishtinë: Rilindja.
H.R.W.S.: Human Rights Watch Staff. (1990). Human Rights Watch World Raport 1990. Human Rights Watch.
Husarska, A. (1999, May 25). Death of a Peacemaker. The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 Mar. 2024, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1999/05/25/death-of-a-peacemaker/ca713d2f-7b5d-4d82-ace7-7af763922e51/
Hyseni, H. (1996). E vërteta për helmimet [The Truth about Poisonings]. Prishtinë: Editorial Board of the Kosovo Democratic Christian Party.
Karastojanov, S. (2007). Kosova. Skopje: Serembe.
Kofos, E., & Veremis, T. (1998). Kosovo: Efforts to Solve the Impasse. The International Spectator, 33(2), April–June 1998. Retrieved 29 Feb. 2024, from https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/olj/iai/iai_98koe01.html
Koliqi, H. (2002). Historia e arsimit dhe e mendimit pedagogjik shqiptar [History of Albanian Education and Pedagogical Thought]. Prishtinë: University of Prishtina & Libri Shkollor.
Koliqi, H. (2004). Sistemi i arsimit në Kosovë [The Education System in Ko-sovo]. Prishtinë: Libri Shkollor.
Lory, B. (2005). L’Europe Balkanique de 1945 à nos jours. Paris: Armand Colin.
Marko, J. (2023). The Revocation of the Kosovo Autonomy 1989–1991 and its Consequences for the Idea of European Integration. Pristina: Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Kosovo.
Muhadri, B. (2004). Dhuna dhe krimet serbo-malazeze më arsimin shqip të Komunës së Gjakovës (1990–1999) [Violence and Serbo-Montenegrin Crimes against Albanian Education in the Municipality of Gjakova (1990–1999)]. Has: Pjetër Bogdani Publishing House.
Nizich, I. & Laber, J., (1992). Yugoslavia: human rights abuses in Kosovo 1990-1992. Helsinki Watch, a division of Human Rights Watch.
Osmani, J. (2010). Krimet e Serbisë në Kosovë 1998–1999 [Serbian Crimes in Kosovo 1998–1999]. Prishtinë: Agency of State Archives of Kosovo.
Pupovci, D., Hyseni, H., & Salihaj, J. (2000). Numbers and Facts in Kosovo Education [Shifra dhe fakte për arsimin në Kosovë]. Prishtinë: Kosovo Education Center (KEC). Retrieved 23 Feb. 2024, from http://www.kec-ks.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/botime_003-shqip.pdf
Schmitt, O. J. (2008). Kosovo: Kurze Geschichte einer zentralbalkanischen Landschaft. Vienna: Böhlau Verlag.
Schmitt, O. J. (2019). Die Balkans im 20. Jahrhundert: Eine postimperiale Geschichte. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer Verlag.
Shatri, B. (2010). Arsimi shqip në Kosovë 1990–1999 [Albanian-language Education in Kosovo 1990–1999]. Prishtinë: Libri Shkollor.
Sommers, M., & Buckland, P. (2004). Parallel Worlds: Rebuilding the Edu-cation System in Kosovo. Paris: UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning. Retrieved 22 Feb. 2024, from
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000136152
Journals:
Hedges, C. (1998, Mar 10). On a Garage Floor in Kosovo, A Gruesome Ser-bian Harvest. The New York Times, Section A, p. A1. Retrieved 5 Mar. 2024, from https://www.hrw.org/legacy/reports98/kosovo/Kos9810-04.htm
Smith, R. J. (1998, Mar 9). Eerie Quiet Follows Assault in Kosovo. The Washington Post, p. A13.
Bird, C., & Watt, N. (1999, May 10). Kosovan leader’s death condemned.
The Guardian. Retrieved 2 Mar. 2024, from https://www.theguardian.com/world /1999/may/10/balkans7
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 BALKANISTIC WORLDS
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
