ELEMENTARY SCHOOL „DESANKA MAKSIMOVIC“ - THE ONLY MULTIETHNIC SCHOOL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BUJANOVAC

16. January 2012.

The “Desanka Maksimovic” elementary school is the only school in the municipality of Bujanovac where classes are held in both Serbian and Albanian. The school was built in 1936, while the classes in Albanian began to be held in the 1970’s. The school had the greatest number of schoolchildren at the end of the 1970’s. It has an outpost in the village of Biljaca, and both the schoolchildren and teachers commend the excellent working conditions there. The school was fully renovated in 2003.

School Principal Nazmi Nuhiu says that the school is an exemplary one because it is multiethnic:

“Since the classes are held in two languages, Serbian and Albanian, our school is a true example of good interethnic cooperation. The interpersonal relations are also enviable, thanks to the employees, the schoolchildren and their parents”, Mr. Nuhiu said.

There is no gym, nor the chemistry, physics and biology lab at the school:

“We wish we had a gym, which could be used for cultural events, too”, said the School Principal, adding that particular attention was given to the education of the teaching staff.

Additional teaching and work in clubs is organized for gifted schoolchildren.

Vesna Petrovic, a teacher from Vranje, who has been teaching at the school for six years so far, emphasized the advantages of working in a multiethnic environment:

“Working at a multiethnic school has its advantages, because two cultures permeate each other. The Serbs and Albanians have a chance to better get to known one another during their daily communications and through working together. That is how schoolchildren learn more about one another, about the similarities of and differences between their cultures and customs, which all results in the better understanding between the two peoples and life without conflicts”, she said.

Kristina Trajkovic, a schoolchild, said that she hung around with her Albanian school mates on a daily basis:

“Of course, I socialize with the Albanian schoolchildren. What is important is that there are no conflicts and fights between us whatsoever. I often help them do their essays in Serbian.”

Valon Aslani, a schoolchild, backed up Kristina’s statement:
“We hang out and help one another. I mastered Serbian and I haven’t heard that there were ever any problems.”

Dzevdet Sabani, a school teacher, who has been working at the school since 2005, says that there haven’t been any interethnic problems so far:

“I cooperate very well with everyone here. All the teachers, both Serbian and Albanian ones, have a joint staffroom, where they share their opinions and viewpoints on education.”