EFFECTIVE SUPPORT FROM FNV AND AOb

Following the successful approval of the Projects with the General Union of Education Personnel in the Netherlands, AOb, both Albanian education trade unions, Trade Union Federation of Education and Science of Albania, (FSASH), and Independent Trade Union of Albanian Education, (SPASH), financially supported, at the beginning, by the Dutch organisation, NOVIB, and then, by the Confederation of Dutch Trade Unions, FNV, together with AOb, a new supporting Project, aiming the strengthening and innovation of FSASH and SPASH, is being implemented by these trade unions, through the financial assistance of FNV, for the next two years, 2007-2008.

Further engagement of FSASH and SPASH and the participation of an increased number of teachers, members of both of them, in concrete activities, aiming the prevention and elimination of child labour, considering the actual achievements closely linked to their structural empowering and effective activities are the epicenter of this project.

Based on the results achieved, considered as a second phase of the previous project, the actual Project continues to support the innovation and democratic developments of FSASH and SPASH, being focused especially on the consolidation of their leading structures, in particular in local level, strengthening the collaboration between them, increasing the number of members, mainly with women and young teachers, improvement of the financial situation, through an increased number of members who pay the membership fee and progressive increase of the amount of membership fee, according to the respective statutes, also the increase of their role and influence in the reformation and modernization of the education process and socio - economic developments in Albania.

Strengthening and innovation of FSASH and SPASH, through increasing the number of their members and income from the membership fee, through the consolidation of their local structures, increasing the capacities and better informing of their members.
Special commitment to the problems of women teachers, improvement of their position in education and their participation in the trade union activities.
Further commitment of FSASH and SPASH and other trade unions to the prevention and elimination of child labour.
Better communication and further awareness raising activities for teachers, members of FSASH and SPASH.

Concrete objectives and indicators, as well as joint activities in central and local level are planned for each of these fields, aiming also better commitment of local leaders of the trade unions in schools and massive participation of teachers in these activities.
Strengthening of the trade unions and realization of objectives for the prevention and elimination of child labour, according to this Project, are directly linked to the improvement of the communication with members and public opinion in general, aiming their awareness and commitment to concrete actions.

More then 650 teachers and specialists, members of FSASH and SPASH, and 3 500 pupils directly involved in several activities planned to be organized in the framework of this Project, will be in continuing communication, not only with teachers and representatives of other institutions in the school and community, but also with central and local structures of both trade unions.

An important role will play, in this respect, the regular publication, now once every two months and even often, of the Magazine “Tribuna Sindikale”, that will have a direct impact to the dissemination of information related to the activities of the Project and wider, modernization of educational system, elaboration of the opinion of teachers and specialists, regarding educational reform, as well as to the social-economic support of their members.

Parallel with all of those above mentioned, being supported by the project, having also the contribution of both our trade unions, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and local Education Directories, will be made possible to provide joint offices for both education trade unions in 8 regions, being equipped with communication devices, including computers, telephone lines, e-mails and internet.

An important step forward for both Albanian education trade unions, FSASH/SPASH, is the opening of their website where their members, and the Albanian teachers in general will find enough information on the work they do and the activities they organize for the protection of their interests.

The leading bodies of our both trade unions really appreciate the assistance of the Confederation of Dutch Trade Unions, FNV and the General Union of Education Personnel in the Netherlands, AOb, for their financial support and the technical assistance they are giving to FSASH and SPASH for the implementation of this activities, for their empowering and innovation in every field and for the commitment of an ever increasing number of teachers to the prevention and elimination of child labour.