Just days after the confirmation that Vetëvendosje has lost control over the North Mitrovica municipality, the outgoing mayor, together with South Mitrovica mayoral candidate, acting ministers of Internal Affairs and Local Government Administration, laid the foundation stone for another new school in the northern part of the city — this time, they say, “for all the children of Mitrovica.” The new school is designed to accommodate 360 students and is expected to be completed within a year and a half.
As early as 10 a.m., workers of the Fidola company — wearing new helmets, vests, and equipment — were preparing the site for the afternoon media event. The entrance gate to the complex that includes the Church of St. Dimitrije was removed, part of the playground cleared, and an area arranged for the ministers’ visit.
Political context: Losing power, not enthusiasm
Local elections confirmed that Vetëvendosje lost North Mitrovica to the Serbian List, which is returning to power after a three-year boycott.
Yet, despite operating in a caretaker capacity and Kosovo being months without a functioning government — and potentially only weeks away from new parliamentary elections — the outgoing municipal leadership continues with visible activity.
Today’s foundation stone marks the start of construction of another elementary school in the northern part of the city, near the main church and close to what local Albanian politicians have called the “container school” in the Mikro naselje/Kodra e Minatorve neighborhood.
The facility previously served as a satellite unit of the “Aziz Sulejmani” Elementary School, providing education for a small number of Roma and Albanian children.
Complaints about limited access for Albanian students to schools in the north have been frequent. With two new school projects now underway — one for 500 students near the former Military Repair Complex, and this one for 360 — a total of 860 new school places are being built under the Kosovo education system (9+1 model).
Ministers and candidates at the ceremony
Besides Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla and outgoing Mayor Erden Atiq, the event also drew the attention of Faton Peci, the Vetëvendosje-backed candidate for mayor of South Mitrovica, who is entering the second round of local elections in just a few days. Also present was Elbert Krasniqi, the outgoing Minister of Local Government Administration, a frequent visitor to the north.
Atić: “For all the children of the city”
Atić thanked Prime Minister Albin Kurti for funding the project, which he said will cost €2.3 million and will be financed by the Kosovo government.
Asked whether this new school was necessary in addition to the one already under construction near the Military Repair site, Atić replied:
“Yes, it is necessary. Albanian pupils are studying in containers, just 20 meters from here. In a year and a half, they will be in a good and modern school.”
Although initially focusing on Albanian students, he later added, in response to a follow-up question:
“Of course, it’s for all children. Without distinction.”
Atić emphasized that the project is not under the mayor’s direct authority, but rather that it is a government project — “the Government of Albin Kurti,” he underlined.
As for the partially demolished playground, used by children from all communities, he said it would be rebuilt:
“We’ll build a new one. As you can see, this one is no longer functional for pupils. Everything will be new.”
Background: Legal and procedural concerns
The Municipal Assembly of North Mitrovica approved the change of land use for this project on August 28 — from agricultural to construction land — two months before today’s ceremony.
The issue was first raised on August 11 but failed to pass due to a lack of quorum, after the only Serbian member, Dušan Milunović (a resident of the Mikro naselje neighborhood), walked out in protest because the draft decision had been provided only in Albanian. The document was later presented in both languages when the vote passed at the end of August.
The municipal chairman, Nedžad Ugljanin, had previously reminded the assembly that the Ministry of Local Government Administration had warned all municipalities against adopting land-use changes after election announcements. Despite that, the decision was adopted.
Ugljanin later softened his stance, suggesting the decision “might not necessarily be illegal,” since the ministry’s notice referred to “municipal land” generally, without explicitly mentioning agricultural land.
The parcel in question — cadastral unit P-73808130-02504-1, covering 7,050.70 square meters — lies next to the unfinished sports hall, known locally as the “balloon hall.” As of this morning, Fidola workers were already on site, clearing the playground and preparing for construction.
Second new school in one month
This is the second foundation stone for a new elementary school for Albanian pupils in North Mitrovica within a month. In early October, Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Minister Sveçla inaugurated construction near the Military Repair Complex, a project expected to accommodate about 500 students by spring 2027.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
