The killing of a student in Kosovo in an argument with another student has heightened concerns about violence and security in educational institutions.
The 20-year-old victim was a student at the Arkitekt Sinani Technical Secondary School in the southern part of the divided town of Mitrovica, in northern Kosovo. He was killed with a knife and died some hours later in hospital, police said.
Although the Kosovo police have arrested one suspect in connection to the killing, the motive for the attack remains unclear.
However, the crime has again raised concerns about the security of students in schools and colleges across the country.
The ombudsperson, Sami Kurteshi, after condemning the attack, urged the authorities to increase security measures in schools and colleges.
“The killing is tragic and painful and has to serve as a wake-up call for all responsible educational and security institutions in the country,” he told the media.
Nehat Mustafa, the deputy education minister, held an extraordinary meeting with representatives of the police and the Council of Kosovo Parents.
“It’s high time to raise awareness, not only amongst students but in the whole of society, in order to curb the use of force that has recently been seen in schools,” the minister said after the meeting.
Earlier this month, a boy aged 14 was shot dead and another was injured in a mystery shooting close to a school in the capital, Pristina.
While concern about violence in schools is growing, there are no official figures about the number of violent incidents that have occurred in recent years in and around schools in Kosovo.
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-youngster-killed-in-school
