press releases

IDMC condemns the use of communist symbols in commemorative event

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The Institute for Democracy, Media and Culture (IDMC) expresses its deep concern, after the publication on social networks, of the activity conducted by the Municipality of Cerrik, on 14 May 2022, to commemorate the partisan battalion "Dumrea", where students appeared with the red scarf of the "pioneer", a clear symbol of the Communist dictatorship.

Through our many years of engagement in the field of memory, we have noticed that young people have not received the proper historical formation for the communist period, both in history teaching and through cross-curricular activities.

IDMC has given and gives its contribution to the civic education of children and young people, through the subjects of history, citizenship, literature, philosophy, geography etc., through: publishing auxiliary texts with archival documents; competitions, dedicated to children and young people with different topics from life in the period 1944 – today; study visits with students and teachers to places of suffering (prisons and former internment camps); training of teachers of history, geography, literature, citizenship, etc.

But this contribution cannot replace the role of the Ministry of Education, the General Directorate of Pre-University Education (DPAP), the Agency for Quality Assurance of Pre-University Education (ASCAP), the Center for Educational Services (QSHA), the Regional Directorates of Pre-University Education (DRAP), Local Education Offices (LVOs), School Directorates, teachers for the historical and civic education of children and young people during the period of communist dictatorship.

The work done in schools on this issue is far from the internationally accepted human rights standards of the Council of Europe for the teaching of history, included by ASCAP, in history and other subject curricula and approved by MAS.

IDMC, recently, has initiated the "Petition on Decommunization", which, among other things, demands:

  • the drafting of a legal framework which condemns the propaganda and symbols of the communist regime;
  • revision of the curriculum and instructions of the MES, for the pre-university system, with the aim of creating the personality of children and young people on the basis of civic and democratic principles

Through this press release, IDMC asks the Ministry of Education, Regional Directorate of Pre-University Education in Elbasan to distance themselves from this act and take appropriate measures against any actor who uses the ignorance of young people to restore and revive the symbols of the communist dictatorship.

The school must guarantee the protection of the rights of children and young people from exploitation, which may give them certain actors and agendas.

In many European Union countries, the demonstration of the symbols of totalitarian regimes is unacceptable and punishable by law.