Speech by Maria Suokko, UNDP Resident Representative

Permanent Secretary Kastrati,

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Good morning! I am pleased to join this event to launch the Teaching Peace and Building Resilience curricula manuals.

Ministry for Education, Science and Technology requested UNDP’s assistance in promoting a safe environment in schools. An environment where students would feel safe both physically and intellectually.

We know that safe environment is key for students to be able to learn and develop. This requirement is included in the Kosovo Education Strategic Plan 2017-2021 and many of your municipal education development plans.

We, as UNDP Kosovo put a lot of effort in helping to promote rule of law and human rights - in order to reduce all forms of violence. In fact, the sustainable development goals, particularly SDG 16 which addresses peace, justice and strong institutions emphasizes just that.

Together, through a generous support by USAID in close cooperation with Ministry officials, we have helped to prepare the Teaching Peace & Building Resilience curricula Manuals for teachers at the lower and upper level education (for students ages 11-14 and 15-18, respectively).

Teachers and educational institutions play a critical role in helping to ensure that young people can contribute to more peaceful and equitable societies. Students that possess these behaviors, knowledge and values are empowered to cope with the difficulties that come their way.

Students can have a positive impact not only within their school, but within their social circle, within their family, and within the wider community.

It is crucial that teachers assist students in building their creativity and critical thinking skills, effective communication, and other life skills.

These competencies can help students to better prevent and respond to bullying and mediate conflicts. These skills can help students to resist peer pressure and make healthy decisions regarding drug and alcohol use. These skills can also help stay away from other risky behaviors such as violent extremist and radicalization.  

These manuals promote a strengths-based approach that provides students with the tools they need to recover from life’s setbacks and challenges. The manuals provide guidance on how to foster resilience, democratic values, equality, and peace.

Not only is this model supported by guiding documents of the United Nations, but it draws from the most recent research on the prevention of violent extremism.

Through this process, UNDP Kosovo has facilitated the Ministry’s cooperation with eight pilot schools from Gjilan, Kaçanik, Prizren, and Pristina as well as over 10 organizations through formation of a Consortium. The Consortium has successfully developed these curricula manuals to link existing resources with learning objectives of the Kosovo Curriculum Framework.

In fact, these manuals are the first of their kind in the Western Balkans to provide teachers with the tools they need to include key topics from a range of local and international materials and apply it in the classroom.

In isolation, changes to the curriculum alone will not have a lasting impact. Schools and municipalities must have a plan for preventing violence in schools as well as reporting incidence of violence. They also need to be actively building a culture of peace within their schools - so that students can better communicate and mediate conflicts.

A whole-of-school approach is needed. This includes monitoring staff development, school management, school activities, and community level outreach. Raising awareness of families and communities is key.

I hope that you will find these curricula manuals to be a valuable tool as teachers and administrators in strengthening your school’s efforts to ensure that your students - and Kosovo’s future - will be peaceful and prosperous.

We are thankful to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology for leading this process. We are also grateful for the participation and cooperation of all the schools and organizations that are part of the Consortium.

We look forward to continuing our cooperation in helping to build peace and resilience – with the focus on students and young people, Kosovo’s future!