In the framework of the Global Action for Education, Albanian Coalition for Education (ACE) presented the report on “Financing Public Pre-university Education in Albania”.
Mr. Altin Hazizaj, executive director of CRCA, presented on behalf of ACE the main findings of the report concerning the last 10 years government funding of pre-university education system in Albania. This study is developed based in the national campaign “6% for Education”, that ACE has long announced for the increase of GDP allocated to the education sector.
The report evidences that only 2.2% of the GDP is allocated to education. In the last 3 years, investment in education has declined sharply, despite the fact that the government program recommends the opposite. The study also brings a picture of foreign investment in the field of education, showing their zero digits in these 4 years. Since 2014 till now, Albanian institutions have not had the capability to absorb any foreign investment and no major investment or projects related to the pre-university education in Albania.
With regard to the pupils, the study brings disturbing facts, by showing that in the last decade their number has decreased by almost 200,000 children less. This decrease in number risks bringing about a reduced number of schools and staff. During the preparation of the education budget the “per student” formula has never been used. The number of pupils in rural schools has been greatly decreased, creating disadvantages for urban schools. Due to the unequal distribution of teachers, there is a significant difference between the average number of pupils per teacher in rural and urban areas.
ACE, proposed to the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth and to the representatives of the Albanian Parliament, these following recommendations:
• The Albanian Parliament should set a mandatory minimum percentage for the Government to finance pre-university education in Albania.
• The Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Finance should allocate the budget program of basic education from the pre-school according to the standards and evaluate the possibility that for the 2019 education budget, the budget program “vocational education” returns to the Ministry of Education.
• The Ministry of Education should prioritize the establishment of the Local Education Group (LEG), a successful model for absorbing foreign aid and funding.
Distinguished Albanian parliamentarians such as, Mrs. Vasilika Hysi, Mrs. Albana Vokshi and Mrs. Kejdi Mehmetaj unanimously stressed the need to increase the budget for the education sector.
The Director of Pre-University Education at the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Zamira Gjini, regarded the report as a window that evidences many details concerning the funding of pre-university education sector and called for a joint engagement, Ministry-NGO, to make possible the increase of the budget for education in Albania.
The entire study is based on official data of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, as well as by the Ministry of Finance, is prepared by Albanian Coalition for Education with the support of Global Campaign for Education.
he full report will be shared on the web: www.acce.al