Acting Minister of Education and Science Hajrulla Çeku stressed that the education reform process must move faster, while building a quality system requires the engagement of all stakeholders.

During a meeting with representatives of educational institutions, trade unions, universities, parents, students and pupils, agreement was reached on coordinating actions within the framework of the education reform, Çeku announced.

He announced that the new Education Strategy 2035+ is being prepared, with the aim of ensuring quality education from early childhood through university, as well as strengthening the knowledge and competencies essential for the country’s development.

The discussions also covered preparations for the start of the new school year, the early childhood education curriculum, the review of school textbooks and the profiling of universities.

Çeku stated that such meetings would be organized regularly to ensure continuous coordination during the implementation of education reforms.

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The new school year in Kosovo will begin without delays, on September 1.

The United Education, Science and Technology Trade Union (SBAShK) has assured that teachers are fully prepared for the start of classes.

However, as the start date approaches, the union has raised its voice over a problem that has persisted for years. Ymer Ymeri, SBAShK’s secretary, expressed surprise at claims in some municipalities that a number of teachers are being treated as a “technological surplus.”

According to him, this label is incomprehensible, particularly in municipalities where vacancies for teachers are continuously announced and new staff are hired. He suggested that the real aim may be to silence critical voices.

Regarding the progress of the educational process, Ymeri confirmed that, according to the data available to the union, all educational institutions are ready to welcome students. The teachers they represent have already begun reporting to schools, while preparations have been completed at most facilities. At some other schools, renovation work is in its final phase, indicating that classes will begin as planned.

The union leader also expressed hope for a smooth process of subsidizing textbooks, adding that students should not face delays in receiving the books they need.

He put an end to any speculation about possible strike action by the union, expressing confidence that their demands would be seriously considered by the central authorities.

The Ministry of Education has also given similar assurances, confirming to Klankosova.tv that September 1 remains the unchanged date for the start of classes.

Meanwhile, the Parents’ Council has reiterated its concerns and dissatisfaction, particularly regarding the way the book-subsidy process is being carried out, as well as other demands which, according to them, have been ignored by the Ministry of Education and Science.

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Albania continues to finance education at significantly lower levels than the countries of the European Union. In 2023, public spending on education in the country accounted for just 2.9% of Gross Domestic Product, compared with the EU average of 4.7%, according to Eurostat data.

The difference amounts to 1.8 percentage points of GDP. In relative terms, the share of spending on education in the Albanian economy was around 38% lower than the European average.

To reach the EU average, Albania would need to increase education funding by around 60% relative to the size of its economy.

If included in the ranking of the 27 member states, Albania would have the lowest level of education spending.

According to Eurostat, Romania was at the bottom of the EU ranking, with 3% of GDP, followed by Greece at 3.3% and Malta at 3.4%.

On the other hand, the countries that devoted the largest share of their economies to education funding were Sweden, with 6.8% of GDP, Finland with 6.3% and Belgium with 6.2%.

Denmark spent 6.1% of GDP. Compared with Sweden, the share of spending in Albania was less than half as large.

At the European Union level, public spending on education remained unchanged at 4.7% of GDP compared with 2022.

Nevertheless, it was 0.3 percentage points lower than in 2020, when it reached 5% of GDP, the highest level since these data began to be collected in 2012.

Even compared with the Western Balkans, Albania ranks last in terms of the share of public spending allocated to education. At 2.9% of GDP, the country was around 1 percentage point below the WB6 average of 3.9%.

The latest figures used by the OECD are 4.7% for Kosovo, 4.4% for Bosnia and Herzegovina, 4.1% for Montenegro, 3.7% for North Macedonia and 3.3% for Serbia.

Eurostat statistics cover public funding for all levels, from preschool to university and doctoral education, but exclude early childhood educational development programs.

Spending includes the direct funding of educational institutions, as well as scholarships, loans and other transfers to pupils, students and their families./MONITOR

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