Evaluation Conference in Tirana on FNV/AOb -FSASH/SPASH Project implementation

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As planned, the Evaluation Conference on project implementation, was organised in Tirana International Hotel, on 22 May 2009.
Around 80 participants took part in the Conference, out of whom 74 teachers, pupils and trade union leaders from education and other branch trade unions and both Confederations, KSSH and BSPSH.
 
Representatives from Ministry of Labour, (Labour Relations Director, Head of Child Labour Elimination Unit), IPEC National Manager, representatives from employers organisations took also part
during the first session of the Conference.

Mario van de Luytgaarden attended the Conference on behalf of FNV.

In the report, held on behalf of both Albanian education trade unions, by the Chairman of FSASH, Xhafer Dobrushi, was made a detailed analysis of the work done, results achieved, problems faced and duties for the future.

In the interventions of Mario van de Luytgaarden, as well as of those from the Ministry of Labour, ILO-IPEC, employers organisations, were appreciated the work done and results achieved, also pointing out the need of the continuance of the work in all the three pillars of this project implementation, (consolidation of trade unions, child labour prevention and elimination and communication with members).

Teachers, headmasters, pupils took also part actively in the discussions telling about their work, difficulties faced, planes for the future and so on.
Working groups session discussions were based on a concrete proposal for a plan of action for the next two years, proposals fro which will be further elaborated by presidencies of both education trade unions, FSASH and SPASH.
Some of the main results mentioned during the Conference were;

- In total was realised the objective of the project regarding membership increase, by
4 500 members, (SPASH recruited 3 300 new members out of 3 000 planned, FSASH recruited 1 200 new members out of 1 500 planned).
- Around 65 percent of new members are from women teachers. So out of 3 300 new members for SPASH, 2 170 are women and out of 1 200 new members from FSASH, 780 are women. There are also some improvements in women representation in FSASH and SPASH leading bodies, but this is under the process, because both trade unions have their trade union elections this year, including their congresses expected to be held in September (SPASH) and early November (FSASH).
- Some improvements are also made in income increase from membership dues, but in this objective we are far from being realised. Both of out trade unions have realised some 70 percent of revised objectives, (after the first year of project implementation results), and some 60 percent of project description objective. This is not the final result, because both our trade unions are under the process of membership fee collection and we expect this result to be improved by collecting the membership fee for the first half of 2009.
- Good results can be considered those regarding child labour prevention and elimination.
More than 1 600 teachers, out of whom 570 in 20 pilot schools have been and are engaged in concrete individual work with more than 2 400 pupils, out of whom 1 250 in 20  pilot schools. More than 650 children are moved from working turned back in the school only in 5 selected districts and more than 1 800 pupils are considered out of risk to drop out from school as a result of concrete work that teachers, pupils, school administrations have done in the schools, in the community and in pupils’ families. Some steps forward are also done regarding the involvement of other branch trade unions, especially those from textile and garment, construction, commerce, agriculture, light industry and so on.
- A higher level of communication with members is the result of providing communication equipment for 8 offices, publication of 8 issues of the Magazine “Tribuna Sindikale” per year, as well as two brochures on the activities of both FSASH and SPASH during project implementation period.

During his interventions, Mario van de Luytgaarden, insisted on sustainability of trade union activities, pointing our especially innovation of trade unions, increasing the membership and the income from the membership fee, in order to be able to afford the organisation of needed activities for teachers social and economic protection and progressive development of education system in Albania..

All the participants appreciated very much the assistance from FNV/AOb and expressed their gratitude for their contribution towards our trade unions.

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