National Audit Office report highlights school safety concerns

A report by the National Audit Office (ZKA) has revealed significant concerns regarding safety in schools. According to the audit, only 52 percent of surveyed students consider their schools to be safe, while 39 percent consider them partially safe and 9 percent feel unsafe. The audit evaluated how institutions, including the Ministry of Education and Science, the Kosovo Police, and local municipalities, manage the prevention, reporting, and monitoring of violence and security incidents.

In the municipality of Gjakova, which recorded the highest level of implementation of preventive safety measures among audited areas, 71 percent of students reported feeling safe. However, the report highlighted a serious issue in Gjakova, where 16 percent of surveyed students reported witnessing the possession of weapons on school premises. In Gjakova, 107 cases of violence were noted in internal school records, while the Kosovo Police documented 49 cases.

Auditor General Vlora Spanca emphasized that school security requires continuous cooperation between the Ministry of Education, municipalities, schools, the police, social work centers, and parents to create an environment free from violence and bullying. Acting Minister of Education Hajrullah Çeku stated that the report's findings and recommendations serve as a guide for improving institutional performance.