For many students in Kosovo, conversations about sexual health, consent and respect remain taboo. The country’s education system does not yet include sexual education as a dedicated subject within the curricula. Instead, topics related to sexual and reproductive health are scattered across several subjects, such as biology, psychology and civic education, and are usually addressed only superficially. Studies have shown that textbooks contain gender stereotypes and discriminatory language, and that discussions about consent, sexual harassment and violence are mostly absent.
At the same, research by the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has revealed that close to 50 percent of Kosovars have experienced some form of sexual harassment during their lifetime, with women being disproportionately affected. These findings underscore the urgent need for inclusive sexual education that challenges stereotypes, eliminates stigma and promotes equality.
To address this, the Centre for Education and Community Development – Friends (CECD Friends) implemented an initiative with the goal of promoting comprehensive, gender-sensitive and stigma-free sexual education in Mitrovica’s primary schools.
Laying Groundwork Through Research
Researcher Rita Berisha analysed textbooks in biology, civic education and Albanian language to assess how sexuality-related topics were addressed. The study found that current materials treat such themes only partially and without clarity, confirming the need to update and supplement them with inclusive, gender-sensitive content.
This activity produced the first comprehensive report on sexual education in Kosovo’s primary-school textbooks, identifying major gaps and offering concrete recommendations for improving content and introducing new topics.
Observing Teaching Practices
CECD then conducted 12 classroom observations in two primary schools, to understand how sexual education is currently taught. The team also collected qualitative data through interviews with teachers. The findings helped CECD and KWN design a one-day training for teachers and school directors, focused on inclusive and gender-sensitive teaching methods. The training increased teachers’ awareness of how to discuss sexual education openly and with sensitivity to gender issues. Afterward, several teachers began incorporating the new approaches in practice. One of the participating teachers said: “I will definitely try to apply what we learned in my classes during this school year.”
Working with Students from Diverse Communities
Another component of the initiative involved direct engagement with students. CECD organised three educational sessions, attended by 79 students from Roma, Ashkali, Bosniak and Egyptian communities. The sessions introduced participants to key themes of comprehensive sexual education, including body awareness, consent, sexual and reproductive health, and the prevention of unwanted pregnancies. Students expressed that they were satisfied with the lesson content and had learned about new topics that are usually not addressed in school.
Advocacy and Institutional Outreach
Based on the research findings, CECD also prepared and sent an advocacy letter and the final report to the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI). They gave recommendations for improving textbooks and integrating comprehensive sexual education into the official curriculum. The advocacy letter received support from other local organisations in Mitrovica, showing strong civil society commitment to improving young people’s access to accurate and inclusive information on sexual and reproductive health.
Raising Public Awareness
To expand outreach beyond schools, CECD collaborated with Katror Media to design and launch a social media awareness campaign. The campaign included educational posts, research highlights and an animated video on sexual consent, sexual and reproductive health, and relevant national legislation, such as the Law on Health and the Law on Reproductive Health. The video and materials were shared on Facebook and YouTube, aiming to reach as many young people as possible and to challenge patriarchal attitudes surrounding sexual education. The campaign succeeded in reaching at least 60,000 people online, helping to increase awareness about sexual consent and gender equality while encouraging open public dialogue on issues often stigmatised in Kosovo.
All these activities collectively strengthened public dialogue around comprehensive sexual education and contributed to advocacy for policy improvements in Kosovo’s school system, while simultaneously providing students with age-appropriate information to care for their wellbeing and health. The initiative marks a meaningful step toward a more informed and inclusive education system, one where every student grows up equipped with the knowledge they need to make safe, healthy and respectful choices.
CECD’s initiative “Inclusive sexual education as a priority” was carried out with support from the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF), Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and co-financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), in the amount of €9,933, from January to October 2024. The initiative contributed directly to KWN’s Programme “Gender Transformative Education”.
