THE UNIVERSITY OF TETOVO - A TICKET TO EUROPE
AIM, Skopje, November 2, 1995
The Ministry of Education has proclaimed itself incompetent to follow the activities of the University of Tetovo (UT), while at the same time the Macedonian police keeps away from the facilities where instruction is taking place, which largely confuses the public, especially the Macedonian part, to which this University was represented as the "toppler of the state". The secret seems to lie in the discreet "friendly warning" which came from the West according to which nightsticks may not be resorted to if entry to Europe is desired.
The second academic year of the University in the Albanian language started on October 16 of this year, with a two-week delay, in the settlement of Mala Recica, near Tetovo. The first thing that everyone observed on this occasion was that the Macedonian police was not "present" at the opening, though during the previous academic year it had been the only "interlocutor" on the part of the authorities, which as a rule so far "spoke" the language of force. We should remind that the well-known events surrounding the opening of the University of Tetovo were preceded by a short but hard political struggle which ended in a stalemate.
Despite the resolute refusal of the Macedonian Government to legitimize this institution of higher learning in the Albanian language, the Albanians decided to proceed with their idea, aiming to mitigate the disastrous situation in the area of higher education, reflected in only 2-3 percent of students of Albanian nationality at the two existing universities, in Skoplje and Bitolj. This situation significantly deteriorated with the closing of the Teacher Training College in Skoplje, during the period of "struggle against Albanian nationalism and separatism" in the mid-80's, as well as after the factual closing of the Pristina University at the beginning of the 90's.
The harshness of the police intervention, marked by barrage fire from automatic weapons did not prevent OEBS (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) mission observers nor UNPROFOR (now UNPREDEP) observers from attending in armoured vehicles. The epilogue was tragic - a citizen of Albanian nationality was killed on the spot and a number of others were arrested. Among them were the rector of Tetovo University, Dr. Fadilj Sulejmani, as well as several of his closest associates. Later they were released, but only after the situation was brought under "control". During this entire period instruction was carried out smoothly, in secret, so that not even journalists knew its location.
The beginning of the new, second academic year is in great contrast to the events which marked the beginning of the first one, although the time period between them is only 8 months because that first year instruction began only in February, i.e. it was a whole semester late. The most prominent feature was the absence of any pomp on the part of the University (as opposed to the first year when the opening was attended by the American Congressman George Diogardi and the Yugoslav dissident Mihajlo Mihajlov), as well as the absence of police forces, which were, last time, dressed in bullet-proof vests and carried automatic weapons. This major turnabout aroused different commentaries.
For the Albanians, especially those involved with the University, it is a clear indication that the "authorities have realized their mistake" and opted for genuine democratization. Athough this sounds rather naive, it coincides with the actual situation, although the motives are probably different. On the other hand, ethnic Macedonians interpret the "democracy" of the authorities in a completely different way. According to them, the key lies in the fact that the beginning of the academic year of the "para-university" as they like to call it, coincided with the campaign for finding the organizer and assassin of President Gligorov so that the police could not devote "due attention" to the former problem. The secret of this enigma seemingly lies in the discreet "friendly warning" from the West that no resort whatsoever may be made to nightsticks. Naturally, if the desire is to join European flows and enter the society of "Western democracies". This does not rule out the possibility of there being at least a grain of truth in the abovementioned claims, which are, nevertheless, rather unrealistic.
Be that as it may, the University of Tetovo is now working at "full steam". As opposed to the previous academic year when instruction was conducted at several different locations, quite far from each other, this year a campus was set up near Tetovo, in the outlying suburb of Mala Recica. Instruction is being delivered in three buildings, comprising 17 classrooms, and the rector's office has 6 rooms for administrative needs. The University comprises 6 faculties, namely: of Philology, with four Chairs: for Albanian, English, German and Oriental Studies; of Philosophy with Chairs of history and pedagogy; of Law, Economy, Natural Sciences with Chairs of Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Mathematics and Physics, but this last is not working because there are no interested candidates, and the Art Academy with Chairs of Painting, Music and Drama.
As for the teaching staff, according to the first man of the University, Dr. Fadilj Sulejmani, the University has 150 lecturers. The total number of students is 1,259, and 659 students enrolled in the first year, this academic year. Half of this number are girls, which is a novelty when higher education of Albanian girls in Macedonia is in question. This is a source of special pride to the leaders of the University.
The only problem the University currently admits to is of a financial nature. Besides the University campus, a gift from wealthy Albanians, money is necessary to cover daily operational costs. In order to overcome this problem the Senate of the University of Tetovo has launched an appeal to all Albanians, to voluntarily contribute DM 1 monthly, while workers employed abroad should give DM 500 annually. Assistance is also expeced from international organizations, although a system for collecting these funds has not yet been put in place.
While waiting for the Law on Higher Education, which has been in preparation for a long time now and which should give the final answer regarding the fate of Tetovo University, the major problem is the recognition of diplomas. The ones that are to be issued in three years. The Ministry of Education has made it known that for them this institution of higher learning does not exist, and that such treatment will be accorded to diplomas issued with its seal. On the other hand, the students attending Tetovo University are not especially worried on account of such threats, saying that this is primarily the problem of those who think and speak thus, and that they are interested only in being educated.
And the first man, Dr. Sulejmani, publicly expresses optimism that Albanian businessmen will recognize the high qualifications acquired there, which would be enough. This remains to be seen, and as for the diplomas, they will probably arouse much polemics in the near future. Naturally, unless the drafter of the Law on Higher Education decides to include this institution in the official educational system, which is the aspiration of people from UT. A specific sign showing that they mean business is the fact that the student's booklets are bilingual, and that at least 5% of the places are reserved for students of non-Albanian nationality.
The Law on Local Self-Government envisaging the official use of nationality languages in milieus where they form a majority can also be in favour of the legalization of the University of Tetovo. Tetovo is precisely a case in point, so that it will not be very surprising if a clause is found in favour of UT which is located on the territory of the commune of Tetovo. Undoubtedly, in such a case, a major role will be played by the (good) will of the Macedonian side, and a certain role will probably also be played by the international community, for which the stability of Macedonia is a primary objective. It is indisputable that the issue of higher education in the Albanian language is one of the substantial pre-requisites for the stability of the country.
IBRAHIM MEHMETI