On May 18 and 19, a two-day activity with Albanian language teachers in Switzerland was held in Dottinegen, Zurich, with a focus on “Institutionalization of supplementary learning of the Albanian language in the diaspora – Switzerland”, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosovo.

In this seminar, in addition to the teachers of the “Albanian School” in Switzerland and LAPSH, there were also the Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of the RKS, Mrs. Arbërie Nagavci, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs. Liza Gashi, the newly arrived Ambassador to the RKS in Bern, Mr. Mentor Latifi, Counselor of the Embassy of the RS in Bern, Mrs. Monika Zguro, Consul General of the RKS in Zurich, Mr. Vigan Berisha, as well as Albanian education activist in Switzerland.

Over the course of two days, teachers and relevant representatives discussed the steps to institutionalize supplementary learning in the Albanian language, the role of embassies, as well as the importance of unification and cooperation between all parties to increase the inclusion of as many students as possible in classes where the language is taught. Albanian.

In her speech, Mrs. Zguro emphasized the role that the Embassy had and has in this regard. The role of the Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Switzerland is indisputable in this regard, knowing the fact that the Embassy has already given and will continue to support and give its contribution to all the teachers who never lined up to give voluntarily their greatest national value, that of teaching the Albanian language, culture and history to the children of the diaspora in Switzerland.

One of the key roles of the Embassy of the RS in Bern in the massification of Albanian language learning in Switzerland, is its contribution as an added value to the effort for Albanian learning in the Swiss Confederation. Perhaps a model, a model because with its possibilities, the Embassy has made and is making maximum efforts to massify and open Albanian language classes through the “Albanian School”. From 2019, using the legal spaces allowed by Swiss legislation, the Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Bern took the step of registering as an official sponsor of Albanian language learning, a practice which is also followed by the diplomatic representations of many other countries that have diasporas inherent in Switzerland. In 2022, after a three-year trial period, the Swiss authorities recognized with permanent status the Albanian Embassy represented by the “Albanian School” as the official sponsor of Albanian language learning. During this period, this step taken by the Embassy has begun to bear the first fruits, where currently, within the framework of the “Albanian School” in Switzerland, over 100 Albanian language classes have been opened, engaging 35 Albanian language teachers. in 18 cantons of Switzerland, with the participation of over 1000 Albanian students.

These very achieved results in this short period of time are thanks to the work of the Embassy and about 40 Albanian teachers in Switzerland. Thanks to the will of Albanian language teachers engaged in Switzerland, but also Albanian parents, “Albanian School” within these almost five years, has given a concrete example that with will, professionalism, love and dedication, the massification of Albanian language learning it is no longer a possibility, but a tangible reality.

Thanks to the vitality of all the teachers from the “Albanian School” and LAPSH, the ideas and problems that the teachers in Switzerland, but also throughout the Albanian Diaspora, have conveyed during these years, it has become possible to activate state structures both in the Republic of Albania and and that of Kosovo.

Precisely in order to institutionalize and increase the participation of Albanian children in the learning of the Albanian language, the Embassy of the Republic of Albania with its initiative and the support of the two Embassies, that of Kosovo and North Macedonia, achieved that the “Albanian School” in Switzerland and LAPSH, on March 17 of this year, they signed the agreement of the union of these two subjects, with the sole purpose: increasing the number of students in Albanian classes, massifying it, and preserving the language and national identity.

The merger agreement was signed by two heads of Albanian schools, Mr. Vaxhid Sjediu from “Albanian School” and Mr. Liburn Mehmetaj from LAPSH. Three Ambassadors have also signed in support of this union, that of RSH, Mr. Mustafa Nano, RKS, Mr. Sami Ukelli and RMV, Mr. Rexhep Demiri.

The embassy also distributed free of charge textbooks published by the Diaspora Publishing Center, approved in September 2021, “Albanian language and culture”, Level I. This textbook was distributed for the first time in the 2022 school year. 2023 – 2024, as well as in this school year 2024-2025 is in process. In February 2024, the common teaching text for the diaspora “Albanian language and Albanian culture”, Level II, was approved. The call for Level III has been opened and with this, the process of unifying the textbooks for the Diaspora is expected to be completed this year.