SBASHK supports education staff in Kosovo with the challenges of digital teaching
27 March 2020
The COVID 19 outbreak is a public health crisis quite different than anything Europe has faced for many years. As education personnel and their trade unions grapple with the outbreak, we are supporting and informing member organisations in any way we can.
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As a result of the spread of COVID-19, all schools in Kosovo* have been closed since 12 March 2020. Education trade union SBASHK and its members are using digital tools to carry on their work as best as they can.
The Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation is implementing online education for school age children through a digital platform, supported by two hours of educational broadcasting every day on public television. The Government expects teachers to be involved in this process from their homes by sending students assignments and then tracking participation. Meanwhile universities are using online platforms to connect students and lecturers. The Union of Education, Science and Culture of Kosovo (SBASHK) is in regular contact with the Minister of Education.
Rrahman Jasharaj, SBASHK President, says that “we take great pride in our members who have started to develop online teaching and keep in touch with parents in these difficult times. All of this is a new commitment for both students and teachers. When we consider that teachers face both domestic obligations and personal isolation at home, sometimes with insufficient access to electronic or online tools, we see that this sudden profound change in methodology is a real challenge.”
SBASHK is offering as much assistance as possible to safeguard their members’ wellbeing, including their mental health, during this period of change, stress and increased workload by partnering with school psychologists but also with any association of other psychologists so that they can facilitate their access to free professional counseling wherever they need it.
SBASHK is also using digital tools to continue its work in this challenging period. They are holding online meetings with the leadership, staff and chairs of the municipal and university branches. They are also communicating with their members through online groups and through information published in the media. Unfortunately, this regular contact with the members and local branches has revealed that three students and one teacher are among those infected with COVID-19.
Photo by Valon on Pexels.
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
Get in touch
The ETUCE Secretariat sends solidarity to all teachers, academics and other education personnel and their education trade unions as they react to and tackle this unprecedented crisis. We invite ETUCE member organisations to inform the ETUCE Secretariat about the challenges you face, how you are responding, which good practices you have developed and can share with colleagues, as well as your needs for support from the ETUCE family. Contact ETUCE at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..