OSCE Mission to Skopje supports activities to bring together students in Struga

SKOPJE, 5 June 2009 - Students in Struga will take part in a debate competition on freedom of expression in high schools starting tomorrow as part of an OSCE project promoting conflict resolution through discussion rather than violence.

As part of the two-day event, 16 teams, each consisting of three students of different ethnic backgrounds from Struga's high schools, will discuss whether restrictions to freedom of expression should be allowed in high schools. The activity, organized by the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje and implemented by the Youth Educational Forum, is part of a one-year project which began in spring 2008 and consisted of a series of two-day workshops and public debates on youth issues.

The project aimed to foster discussion between students from Struga's Niko Nestor and Dr Ibraim Temo high schools on matters of common concern and thus improve understanding among students of all ethnic groups.

"Constructive discussion is a way to overcome potential problems, and schools are the right place for students to learn about the values of democracy, and to develop understanding and tolerance," said Johann Schustereder, Education Development Officer at the OSCE Mission.

Ana Bojadzievska, the Debate Programme Coordinator from the Youth Educational Forum, added: "During the debate training, the students analyzed the benefits and drawbacks of restricting freedom of expression in high schools. The students believed that restrictions could deter offensive language and hate speech in the school community, but all of them agreed that mutual effort and educational measures should be taken in order to provide a safe learning environment for all students."

Saturday's debates will be conducted in both high schools, and two teams will be selected to compete in a final public debate at the Struga Municipality building on Sunday.