07.08.2003 CPIC

OHR’s Statement at the International Agency’s Joint Press Conference

Integration of education system is a key requirement for reconciliation and peace implementation in BiH. The decision to integrate the administration of still divided schools, known as two schools under one roof, by 1 September has the united support of the international community, and has also been agreed by the BiH authorities in the Education targets.

Segregated schooling only perpetuates division. It also increases the cost of administration – money that could be better spent on paying teachers and on the children directly, and the facilities and equipment they use. Nobody’s identity will be lost or melted by aplying thos universal european standards.

Taking into consideration that a certain progress has been made in other Cantons we expect the Ministry of Education in Central Bosnia Canton to immediatelly issue an instruction on administrative and legal unification of schools by would fulfil its commitments towards the Education Reform Strategy, post-accession conditions of CoE and explicit demand by the Steering Board of Peace Implementation Council expressed on its session in Sarajevo on June 12th 2003.