TIRANA, September 17
Monday marks the first day of school for 296,000 children all over Albania and especially for over 32,000 first graders. Based on the data provided by the Ministry of Education, the number of pupils has fallen 7.1 percent compared to the previous year. With fertility rates falling to record lows and immigration the number of children in primary and secondary schools fell by over 46.7 percent in a period of 28 years, Monitor magazine reports.
This year, an initiative that provided free books to all the pupils from the first to the fourth grade saved a total of Lek 610 million to the Albanian citizens.
In the meantime, there are over 700 teachers throughout Albania trained to teach and help include all the children with special educational needs and disabilities. Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu confirmed this.
Moreover, Albanian pupils both in primary and secondary schools and teachers are banned from using mobile phones during classes following an order issued in early August by Minister of Education Lindita Nikolla.
In the meantime, special attention and resources are paid to vocational education and training (VET) in order to help students pursue an education program according to the labor market demand. Therefore, Minister of Finance and Economy Arben Ahmetaj said that the total investment from the state budget in VET facilities is expected to reach over Lek 3 billion in 2021. Currently, there are nine vocational schools located in Tirana, Elbasan, Fier, Berat, Durres, Shkodra, and Kamza.
News Source: ATA
Photo Credit: Aurora Golemi
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