From illiteracy to the University: The Institutional development of Albanian education in Kosovo 1945-1990
Authors:   Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation  Republic of Kosovo, Rexha Avni 
Published: December 2024

The education in the Albanian language in Kosovo was early, and it was developed depending on the political circumstances. For five centuries Albanians lived under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Since the Empire was organized in theocratic bases the education system was implemented in Ottoman, Greek and Latin language, consequently in meyteps, mosques, and churches. First schools in Albanian language were opened sometimes at the end of the nineteenth century. The Balkan Wars (1912-1913) created new circumstances in Balkans. A territory that comprises todays Kosovo felt under the Serbian occupation/rule. Since then and until the begging of the World War II the education in Albanian language was prohibited. Only religious Islamic schools were provided to Albanians, who consisted the majority of the population. During the World War II, for the sake of maintaining peace in these regions the fascism allowed education in the Albanian language, a process that lasted about three years. A number of Albanian teachers were brought from Albania to Kosovo in addition to educational texts. Despite this, the educational level of the Albanian population in Kosovo was low and equivalent to illiteracy. Organised and institutional education in the Albanian language in Kosovo began only in 1945. The period 1945-1966 marks initial steps to build an educational legal structure and efforts to organize education besides lack of staff and school buildings.
The internal politic developments in Yugoslavia and emergence of Albanian factor in political balance provided a new era for Kosovo Albanians. Kosovo gained a large scale of autonomy and Albanian leadership used this opportunity to strengthen and advance the education in Albanian language in Kosovo. At the same time Kosovo went under an economic development and consequently the need for new trained staff required an educational system that comprised all levels of education, which was built gradually. This was known as a period of consolidation of the educational system and lasted from 1966 to 1980. The death of Tito and Demonstrations (1981) of Kosovo Albanians to upgrade the political status of Kosovo were followed by aggressive policy of the Yugoslavian Communistic League towards Albanians. Indeed political leaders and academic elites in Serbia stood behind that attitude. Their aim was to ruin the autonomy and to attack the intellectual elite in Kosovo who was seen as nationalistic driven one. A harsh campaign was launched against the education in Kosovo, with a focus on the destruction of the independence of the education system in Kosovo. This period covers years 1981-1990 and was known as “Pressure on the Albanian School”.
The methodology used in this paper is a thematic-comparative approach supported by statistical methods and in accordance with chronology. As a conclusion, it appears that the will of the Albanian population for development and emancipation was reflected in overcoming all difficulties, whether political, administrative, logistical, etc., and illiteracy, to reach the establishment of the highest scientific and cultural institutions. On the other hand, the raising of the educational level influenced the articulation of Kosovo Albanians claims for political equality and national rights.