In Albania, 1250 euros of teachers' salary by 2029

The new government, which was approved Thursday in Albania's Parliament, will raise the average teachers' salary to 1250 euros by 2029, from the current 950 euros.

Focusing on the government's 4-year education programme is the construction of 200 new schools, equipped with modern European infrastructure and technology, to ensure quality education for each student. There will also be 1,000 intelligent labs in place by 2027, providing access for every student in digital technology learning, writes ATSH.

Another priority is expanding online educational services, digitising tests and providing automatic recognition of diplomas, by establishing a specialised and certified agency under international standards.

Within the fourth mandate, the food programme will be implemented in any central-craz municipality, as well as the launch of a new post-school programme (after school).

The programme also includes developing new curriculums where digital technology, innovation and artificial intelligence are integral parts, while all teachers will be trained to implement those with digital skills and contemporary teaching methods.

In the fourth term, the government will continue to ensure free textbooks for 236 thousand primary education students, national minorities' students and individual high school social categories.

Another priority is equipping schools with intelligent cameras, as well as doubling the number of security officers and increasing presence of psychologists and social workers in schools.

The number of teachers for support of disabled children and stem class investments in each school will also increase, as will personal teaching platforms according to students ' specific needs.

The programme also envisions establishing a public school transport society and providing free transportation to students and teachers who travel from their home to certain areas.

Special attention will also be given to supporting schools with artistic and sports orientation, guaranteeing their autonomy and financial support, as well as establishing a new school model with scientific direction and the focus on innovation, starting with the opening of Franco-Albanian Liqueut.

While it will expand within 2027 the financial support programme for teachers in the diaspora and the strengthening of support for Albanian children and teachers with free books and the establishment of the Albanian language and culture learning platform.

In the fourth term, the government will double the number of students in professional education by investing 60m euros in professional school construction and installation of technical labs.

Another objective is to reach 35% the total number of students attending professional education and is guaranteed that by 2030 all students of professional education will have dormitories with European standards.

The focus of the governing programme is also the return of universities to developmental policy guides in higher education, aiming at opening the philials of prestigious international universities and increasing joint, dual and foreign-language programmes. It opens at the Polytechnic University of Tirana campus of Compigne Technological University, enriching academic bid for local and foreign students.

Also, academic diaspora will be included in policy, teaching, and scientific research, through government programmes that convey the best international experiences and create bridges of co-operation.

A research system linked to the EU model will be built, implementing the legal framework for science and doubling investments for modern labs in public universities, institutes and research units.

Financial support for doctors' programmes for young researchers, including the academic diaspora and fostering academy-business co-operation, will also start, with the aim of Albania's scientific research system absorbing comparable funds to EU countries from the Horizon Europe programme.

The new programme will improve university infrastructure and research through the establishment of new campuses and major investments, starting construction of the University of Tirana and the College of Europe campus, held Durres University campus, completed investments in the campuses of Polytechnic University and built the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Elbasan.