For the first time in history, Albanian teaching in New York public schools

Funded by the Department of Education in New York City, the programme facilitates the incubation of Albanian students who still do not know English or adult US students who want to learn Albanian as well as by offering instruction, in all subjects, in both languages, in Albanian and English.

This programme, which many of the speakers mentioned, has no equal for Albanians in any country in the world, is the product of a multiyear-old work directed mainly by community leader Mark Gjonaj and activist, teacher, and member of the Diaspora Co-ordination Council (KKD), Drita Gjongecaj, reports Illyria. com.

P School S/MS 108 in the Bronx is home to this programme that is starting with a classroom at the age of the pre-school garden and will grow year after year, having a class for Albanian children at every level of schooling.

The historic ceremony, held on the morning of September 25th 2025, attended Albania's president, Bajram Begaj, who is in the US for the work of the UN General Assembly and Kosovo Foreign Minister Donika Grovalla.

Gjonaj and Gjongecaj introduced friends from the country to the principal of the school, Stephanie Mustafa, but also with high figures of the school system in New York as Superintendent Chris Vaughan, State Senator Natalia Fernandez and Assembly member John Zaccro Jr. For the district where the school is.

Ahead of the ceremony, President Begaj visited the class where Albanian babies will learn, met with them and with their teacher, and was symbolically distributed some of the books Albania's Ambassador to Washington, Ervin Bushati, had brought with him.

At the entrance to the large hall where the ceremony was held, President Begaj and Minister Grovall signed according to tradition the billboards with their photos wishing welcome.

The hall was decorated with balloons that had the colors of the flags of Albania and Kosovo, as well as many other national symbols, American, Albanian and Kosovo flags.

The hall was full of children and parents in the surrounding area

At the beginning of the ceremony were read the names of children entering history as the first students of this bilingual transitional programme to ensure that no Albanian child is discriminated against or left behind because he does not know English or that the family cannot afford to be educated privately. This program provides an escalating crossing by offering lessons in both languages, facilitating the transition to students in English.

In his speech on this occasion, Johnaj thanked all honourary guests, especially the principal of the school, Mustafa, and activist Drita Gjongecaj for their contributions in years to make this programme come true.

When the light came and spoke to me about it, in 2013 I gave him reasons why it couldn't be realized. We don't have as many kids as numbers, no interest, no funds, and all. But it matters on these issues when you work with people who do not accept the word “not” and they continue until they achieve their goal”, he said.

Gjonaj praised the extraordinary help of many friends of Albanians in the municipality and local government that helped make the dream come true.

President Begaj praised the opening of the bilingual programme as “a very beautiful and emotional moment”.

He underlined that giving children the opportunity to learn in Albanian gives them the gift of language gives them roots.

Kosovo Foreign Minister Donika Grovalla spoke as a parent who raised children in migration, how she always thought what should be done not only as good Germans but as Albanians, though in another country, among other cultures.

She expressed admiration for this program that beautifully combines tradition with involvement in the new country.

Addressing children who heard the talks confused, she told them that they may be upset and do not realize what the moment means to the community and the nation, but one day it will come and they will understand and be proud to be part of the first bilingual class.

A surprise visit was that of the Democrat congresswoman Alexander Octavia-Cortez, who congratulated and hailed the Albanian community for that achievement.

“I was also raised in New York as a child with Puerto Rican parents who had Spanish as a first language”, she said.

She said that the weight of language learning should not remain all at the expense of the parent, but should be assisted by the state just how this is happening.

Meanwhile, light Gjongecaj, who described the route they had taken to get there and promised that this programme is only the beginning.

This major step has a special significance for the Albanian community: it not only preserves and strengthens the native language in new generations, but also increases our presence and cultural identity in one of the world's greatest educational systems. As the initiative of this project, I am convinced that this is only the first point of a long way. Our goal is to extend this model to schools and other neighborhoods of New York, enabling as many Albanian children as possible to learn our language, culture and history, along with academic development in English”, she said.