Over 17 students have enrolled in universities this year, but a large number of graduates have also enrolled in private universities and colleges. There are about 10 students enrolled in private educational institutions, or over 1 more than in public universities.

According to data provided by KosovaPress, 9660 high school graduates have chosen universities and private colleges this year. Meanwhile, 8802 other public universities

The Deputy Minister of Education, Dukagjin Pupovci, told KosovaPress that this year there are 500 fewer students in public and private universities.

Pupovci talks about the reasons for the decline in student registrations in public universities.

"As for registrations, this year we have about 17.600 students who have registered in the first year, while last year there were about 18.100 students, so we have a difference of 500 students, which is not a big difference considering the trends demographically, however, we have changes regarding the public and private sectors. 0:48 In the public sector we have a greater reduction in the number of students, while in the private sector we have a slight increase... so, there is a trend of the movement of female students from the public to the private sector. Also, regarding gender aspects, we can note that we have a satisfactory participation of women in higher education. In the public sector, about 63.7 percent are girls and women, while in the private sector, about 53.9 percent," he said.

He adds that the migration of young people from Kosovo is one of the factors that has influenced the decline in the number of students.

"Why the number of students is falling are demographic factors, we now have fewer young people than we had in previous years, and another reason could be the possibility of employment without completing university studies. Another reason could be the migration that we have from Kosovo, which continues to be significant... Another could be that the private sector often offers study opportunities that are more suitable for working people. It means that learning is sometimes organized in certain programs, on weekend days or in the evening, and for those who work, it is the only option, because in the public sector, learning is organized full-time when people rarely have the opportunity to follow both learning and work. ", said Pupovci.

The Deputy Minister of Education says that they are working so that there is no drastic decrease in students.

"On the other hand, the number of students, if it were not for the students coming from other countries, would also fall in Western European countries. Universities are also open to those who come from other countries and because of them, programs are often organized in English in order to enable such mobility. The goal now is not that the number of students does not fall because it is not that we have any drastic decline, but the goal is to improve the quality", he said.

Pupovci added that the number of students is growing quite a lot in the field of health and well-being. According to him, this is happening because of employment opportunities abroad. He said that there are over 2 students in this field, adding that five years ago there were only 600.

The professor of the University of Pristina, Remzie Shahini-Hoxhaj said that one of the reasons for the drop in students at the university is the debates with criticism of the UP.

"There are several reasons for which the number of students in Kosovo has started to fall in general, but for us as a public university, one of the main reasons is precisely because of the discourse that is used towards this institution. During all the time, in all the debates, the UP is criticized.... Another reason is the seduction by the private institutions against the free education which is offered in the public institutions, the private colleges have done their best to seduce the students for go to study there. This all-encompassing discourse which is being used in the media against this most unfair institution, where we are constantly criticized for the quality we offer, has caused the interest in the public university of Pristina to fade", she said.

While it has not excluded other possibilities such as studies abroad and migration.

Hoxhaj asked the institutions to take more seriously the issue of young people who migrate for economic reasons.

"Obviously, the institutions would have to take the issue of young people leaving the country very seriously, all the responsible institutions, starting with the Ministry of Education, and we as public and private institutions, would have to contribute to increasing the quality, our quality to offer young people a better life", she added.

Rinor Qehaja, expert in education from the Ed Guard institute, has mentioned several reasons for the increase in the number of students in private institutions. According to him, they offer different and more flexible offers to students.

"An increase in the awareness of graduates is undoubtedly a factor in the greater interest in private studies. Also, a different offer, exchange programs, internship programs, flexibility in studies, all of these undoubtedly influence greater interest at the end of the day, in quality it is not that they differ much, it is a wrong perception among years for a higher quality of the public over the private or vice versa, but what makes the difference in the end is the offer of studies", he said.

He said that the decrease in student registration should be an alarm for university management, while adding that the university should offer quality studies and better employment for students.

"The decrease in the number of students' interest should be alarming for the university's management, it is high time for this institution to understand that the debate about publications is not what brings us the quality of studies - the University of Pristina must turn into an entrepreneurial university, a university that offers quality in studies and better employment for students", added Qehaja.