The Project stems from RTM’s 20-year presence in the country and from a Feasibility Study in Kosovo coordinated by RTM and carried out by a mixed team composed of 6 experts in pedagogy, training, management of early childhood educational services, and integration of the Western Balkans.

Context

In Kosovo, over 90% of licensed preschools are located in urban centres; the majority of them (about 65%) is run by private actors. Although the development of the preschool sector is included among the national priorities, the governance capacities of the sector by the Ministry of Education are still limited.

The consultations carried out during the feasibility study revealed a deep concern about the poor quality of preschool education. This element has also been found in several international studies.

The project addresses 3 specific needs and problems:

1. 1. Weak professional skills of preschool staff
      Preschool directors and educators have an outdated or low-quality education. Modern pedagogical materials are lacking and opportunities for refreshment are scarce and expensive.
   2. Top-down educational methods
      Preschools use “imported” learning methods focused on discipline and the obligation to learn. Therefore, the teaching, materials, and educational spaces are rigid, repetitive. The participation of families is very weak: parents see preschool as a “parking lot” aimed at preparing children for primary school.
   3. Public-private antagonism
      The relationship between public and private actors is ineffective as it is based on the defense of vested interests. Private actors see the relationship with institutions as useless due to the limited public funding available.