Shqip
English
Tirana, December 19, 2018 – For the last 15 days, students from all public Universities in Albania are protesting to force the Government to improve the quality of tertiary education, abolish or reduce university tariffs, and improve the living conditions for the students. Albania, a country of about 3 million people, has 12 public universities, established mainly at the largest urban centres, where some 120,000 students are studying.
The student protest started about two weeks ago in front of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, but the failure of the government to act, made the protesters move in front of the Government building at the main boulevard of Tirana. The discussions on the student demands in the Albanian Parliament has become almost impossible because of the parliament's boycott for nearly six months by the two main opposition parties.
Students, who have been joined by many high school students of Tirana, have addressed their requests in a petition with 8 points to the Albanian Government and the Ministry of Education. The students so far have refused to negotiate or discuss with Government officials.
The main students’ requests are focused on the budget increase for education by 5% of GDP, reduction of students’ university fees, corruption in universities, improving the quality of education, living conditions at students’ dormitories and infrastructure of universities.
Since the start of the protests, the Albanian Coalition for Education has publicly supported the student's demand for budget increase to 5% of GDP. The Coalition has advocated since 2014 to the Government and the Ministry of Education on this major students’ concern. Some 31 organizations and networks joined ACE's public statement calling the Albanian Government to support the budget increase starting from 2019.
For more information, please contact:
Linda Pino,
National Coordinator of Albanian Coalition for Education
E-mail: linda.pino@crca.al
