For the first time in the Bijaća school in Croatia, the Albanian language is an elective subject

Vesel Lekaj and Jadranska Šošić explaining about the Albanian language program

 From this school year, nineteen students of Bijaća primary school in Kaštel Novi will have elective courses in the Albanian language. To celebrate this great event for the community has been organized a symbolic start last Friday afternoon. Books were distributed to the students and they had the opportunity to meet the future Albanian language teacher Vesel Lekaj. Together with the school director Jadranska Šošić, the event was attended by Milajim Šukaj, chairman of the Albanian Community of Split-Dalmatia District, Mayor Ivan Udovičić, and on behalf of the mayor's advisor Mate Barun.

The school has currently formed two parallel classes with students who will attend Albanian language classes, namely the parallel department and the subject led by Professor Vesel Lekaj, who also teaches the Albanian language at the school in Zadar. Thus, Bijaća Primary School is the only school in the Split-Dalmatia region that offers the possibility of Albanian language as an elective subject.

Vesel Lekaj giving Albanian language ABC-book to a kid 

"The idea of ​​introducing the Albanian language as an elective subject started spontaneously, but without the goodwill of parents and children, it would not be possible. I discussed the idea with Mayor Denis Ivanovi, who supported it, and then we started with a school survey. A certain number of children gathered for the formation and approval of the Ministry of Education. The Ministry approved and gave consent for the employment of Albanian language teachers that they would have started teaching last year" said Jadranka Šošić, school director, adding that the attitude towards minorities should be distinct and believes that this is a good start working together.

Asked if students from other schools in Kastelë will be able to participate in Albanian language classes, Šošić said that at the moment there is no interest from students from other schools, which does not mean that it will remain so.

The new cooperation was enthusiastically welcomed especially by the president of the Albanian Community of Split-Dalmatia Region, Milajim Šukaj, who believes that classes will be formed in Split for learning the Albanian language because there is interest from children and parents.