114 years ago, the Elbasan Congress met

114 years ago, from September 2 to 9, 1909, a landmark event took place in the history of education, the Albanian School of Culture, which in history is known as the “the Congress of Elbasan” or “Congress of Albanian schools”, where 35 representatives from 28 clubs and patriotic societies participated, inside and outside [...]
Among the convention delegates were well - known activists of the national movement as well as native teachers, such as Orhan Poyan, Grigor Cillka, Gjergj and Sevast Kyriazi, Ahmet Dakli, Refit Toptan, Hamdi Ohrid, Nikolla Kaciri, Andrea Konomi, Idhomen Kosturi, Kahreman Vrion, etc.
The cultural and educational programme that the Elbasan Congress drafted provided official recognition of the Albanian language throughout the existing educational system and further expansion of education in Albanian. Congress also laid out the need to create a high school in Elbasan.
The Elbasan Congress, on a democratic road, elected President Dervis Bicakciu as well as Deputy Chairman Mithat Frasheri. And Simon Schutteriqi and Josif Hadzimime were assigned the letter of Congress. The Elbasan Congress made a series of decisions reflected in the Congress's 15-point Location Act, as well as approval and regulation of clubs and patriotic societies.
The decisions of this convention point out that the “Progress, which was to be created in Korca, was tasked with funding the holding of the Normal School (open on December 1st of 1909), with assistance being collected, would help existing Albanian schools, direct the launch of new schools in many parts of the country, as well as the introduction of Albanian instruction in all foreign schools that existed. Not by chance for holding the education convention was the city of Elbasan chosen.
It was the excellent patriotic, educational, and cultural traditions and prominent figures of this city's National Renaissance that influenced its choice. Elbasan's subhumanity not only now, but even in despotic times, was meant for their love of Albanian”, Mit hat Frasher wrote in his diary.
The Elbasan Congress gave a new boost to the movement for school and national education in general. Based on his decisions, Albanian natives established in Korca on September 20, 1909, the central school society “Progress”, in whose leadership the renowned natives Orhan Pojan (head), Stavri Karoli, Idhomeni Kostur and Mihal Grammeno were elected.
The Albanian school opened in this period following the Elbasan Congress in other countries of Albania. At the end of September, the inauguration of the reorganized school of boys (the first Albanian teacher of 1887) opened in the spring of 1909, which was one of the most complete schools with five classes and five teachers. In October, Albanian schools were opened in Proger, Cukaj, Martaneshi, Verlen in Bilish, Marglech, while Albanian schools in Negovan (at the direction of Petro Nini Lawaras) and in the village of Kostitan in Tepelena opened in December.
Echo of the Elbasan Congress
The work of the Elbasan Congress echoed inside and abroad. The “Korca” calendar, in the “Congress of Elbasan”, wrote that “this convention is the most marked of all conventions. By the decisions he made, he left his name dead on the pages of our history”. While current “Italia for foreigners” ( Lílitalia al estero would point out that “in Elbasan was held a large congress, where excellent Albanians participated in order to put all that is necessary for Albania's progress and peace”.
Works and decisions on the national plain of the Elbasan Congress are valuable and contributing to the spread of education, the mother tongue and national culture.












