Serbian Minister of Education Zarko Obradovic stated on Thursday that the Republic of Serbia needs to remain present in Kosovo-Metohija through its institutions.

Reflecting on the recent statement of German Chancellor Angela Merkel regarding the need for abolishing parallel institutions in northern Kosovo, the minister posed the question as to what lies at the core of the demand for abolishing parallel institutions.

If the essence lies in the confirmation of the so-called statehood of Kosovo, then this is in keeping with the policy which Germany is conducting, Obradovic said in an interview for Tanjug.

He believes that programmes drafted in Kosovo institutions, according to their system of values and ideas, serve the function of promoting the so-called independence of Kosovo instead of enhancing the quality of life for people living there.

The Republic of Serbia has allocated over RSD 131 million from its 2011 budget for the purposes of the educational process in Kosovo-Metohija.

Head of the Kosovska Mitrovica School Administration Predrag Stojcetovic told Tanjug that the administration, which covers the districts of Pec, Prizren, Kosovska Mitrovica and Kosovo, has around 3.200 employees in primary schools and high schools who are on the payroll of the Republic of Serbia.

He added that Serbia is also funding the work of teachers in the Ranilug School Administration for the region of the Kosovo-Morava administrative district.

The board of directors of Serbian schools sent a clear message that they will not accept Albanian programmes under any conditions, Stojcetovic said and added that the schools in Kosovo have been using the curricula prepared by the Serbian Ministry of Education ever since 1999.

He warned that the educational process would be organised in private facilities in case employees are forcibly expelled from Serbian schools.

Around 20.000 students of 97 primary schools and high schools in Kosovo-Metohija are attending classes organised on the basis of curricula from Serbia.