The 19th Nationwide Seminar with teachers of the Albanian language and Albanian culture in the diaspora and emigration has begun. The seminar is organized by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kosovo and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Albania.

This year’s seminar is being held under the theme “Motivating Students in the Diaspora to Learn the Albanian Language and Preserve National Identity.” It will run until July 31 and brings together more than 200 Albanian language teachers from the diaspora to exchange experiences and teaching practices.

The opening ceremony was attended by Kosovo’s Acting Minister of Education and Science, Hajrulla Çeku; Albania’s Deputy Minister of Education, Orjana Osmani; teachers from the diaspora; and representatives of state institutions.

In his speech, Minister Hajrulla Çeku said that the diaspora remains an inseparable part of Kosovo and an important bridge connecting it with the world. He emphasized that the Government of Kosovo has taken concrete steps to strengthen Albanian-language education in the diaspora, including the development of joint textbooks with Albania, teacher training, expanding educational excursions for children from the diaspora, and developing digital platforms.

He also announced that around 800 teachers and 23,000 students are currently learning Albanian outside the borders of Kosovo and Albania.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Orjana Osmani highlighted the irreplaceable role of diaspora teachers in preserving and developing the Albanian language, emphasizing that a language is kept alive by the people who pass it on to younger generations. She also mentioned the strengthening of policies for Albanian-language education and the establishment of the National Agency for the Albanian Language, which will contribute to the long-term development and promotion of the Albanian language.

A welcoming address was also delivered by Dila Rrapi, a teacher from Italy, who has been volunteering for the past 10 years to support supplementary Albanian-language education in the diaspora.

During the seminar, workshops and thematic discussions will be held focusing on modern teaching methods, motivating students to learn the Albanian language, as well as the challenges and opportunities for preserving national identity in the diaspora.