Toward a National Education Plan: Making Education the number one priority in Kosovo

In December 2016, OECD published the results of the 2015 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)1. Kosovo scored shockingly low: close to 80 percent of Kosovo’s 15 year olds turned out to be functionally illiterate. This means that they can read and write but have serious difficulty with reading comprehension. Students struggle to understand and discern meaning from the texts they read. Considering how much information is communicated through the written text, anything from instructions on how to use the washing machine or administering medicines, to the daily news or philosophical concepts, being able to comprehend texts is an essential part of learning, enjoying childhood and preparing for adult life. Students who have not mastered basic reading comprehension skills fall behind their peers in school and have trouble in their professional or social lives later on as adults.