GAW 2013 activities in Albania

Organisation of GAW activities are becoming a tradition for both Albanian education trade unions, FSASH and SPASH.
Through their commitment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science and other Coalition partners, GAW activities in Albania are being organised better and involving more and more districts’ trade unions sections, teachers, pupils and other stakeholders.

Based on EI support, as well as on both their own contributions, after preparations, following the suggestions from EI, they started their activities on Monday and continued during whole week, 21 – 27 April 2013.

A wide material was prepared and distributed to the main district sections, being focused on the respective package sent by EI, but also on the real situation in Albania regarding qualified teachers and problems we are facing to provide quality education to all children.

Both our trade unions are part of a wide Coalition, Albanian Coalition for Child Education, leaded by Children Rights Center of Albania, (CRCA), composed of more than 12 organisations and NGO-s, acting in the framework of GAW 2013, including, ALO 116, SHKEJ, ADRA, ADRF, Partners for Children, La Casa nel Cuore and RVSH, in cooperation with Save the Children and World Vision.

A special poster was prepared by Albanian Coalition and distributed to all participating partners.

National Meeting in Tirana

An interesting meeting was organised by FSASH and SPASH yesterday, on 23 April, in Tirana, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science.
More than 60 teachers and local trade union leaders, from Tirana City and Tirana district were gathered in the Ministry of Education on the occasion of GAW 2013 activities. Representatives from CRCA took also part in the meeting.

The opening speech was held by the Chairman of FSASH, Xhafer Dobrushi, who mentioned the commitment of both FSASH and SPASH for quality education, for teachers training and for keeping children in school, working concretely also for reducing drop outs from school and prevention and elimination of child labour.

Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Mr. Halit Shamata, spoke about the engagement of all the structures of the Ministry and Regional Educational Directorates to improve the situation regarding preparation of qualified teachers, their recruiting based on defined criteria and their in service continuous training.
He mentioned the special structures set up for training of teachers, the Law on Pre University education system in Albania and the contribution of FSASH and SPASH to include in that Law special items on teachers training and teachers recruiting.
He also pointed out that actually in Albania there is one qualified teacher for around 17 pupils and the teaching technology has made progress having an average of one computer for 7 pupils.  

Following, Vice President of SPASH, Nevrus Kaptelli, appreciated the collaboration with the Ministry and local educational directorates and pointed out the engagement of trade unions, mentioning some of the activities organised in the framework of projects implementation and GAW in Albania.

Stavri Liko, General Secretary of FSASH, spoke about the International Conference on Elimination of Child Labour, organised in Uganda on 18-19 April, and its Declaration, mentioning some of the obligations of the Government, Ministry, education trade unions and other stakeholders to keep children in school, prevent and eliminate child labour and so on.

Teachers and local trade union leaders asked questions and discussed various issues related to teachers qualifications and other aspects related to this topic.

Regional meeting in Durres

A special meeting was also organised on Monday, 22 April in Durres, the second largest city in Albania.

More than 40 teachers and school based trade union leaders from both FSASH and SPASH, took part in that meeting.
Both chairmen, Xhafer Dobrushi and Bajram Kruja, as well as the representative from Regional Educational Directorate, Gani Mece, took part in the meeting.

The opening speech was held by the Vice President of SPASH, Nevrus Kaptelli, who pointed out the role of FSASH and SPASH in organising activities on the occasion of GAW, mentioning also the main theme of this year Global Action Week, on qualified teachers.

Following, the General Secretary of FSASH, Stavri Liko, spoke widely on GAW, role of GCE and EI in leading these activities, the main topic for GAW 2013, facts on qualified teachers world wide and in Albania, activities and messages of these activities, role of the Ministry and other educational institutions, the main demands of FSASH and SPASH from Albanian Government and the Ministry of Education and Science.
He also spoke about the Declaration approved in the International Conference in Uganda, on 19 April and the main messages and demands towards Albanian Government and Ministry to coordinate actions aiming to keep all children in school.

The representative of Durresi Regional Educational Directorate, Gani Mece, spoke about the situation regarding qualified teachers in Durres and the efforts of trade unions in collaboration with Regional Educational Directorate to recruit and continues training of teachers.
Local trade union leaders of Durresi District, Sadik Reci, SPASH, and Bashkim Shyle, FSASH, as well as teachers and school based trade union leaders spoke about the situation in their schools and the need for more attention from the Educational Directorate about in services training for teachers.

Regional meeting in Lezha

A similar meeting was organised by both Albanian education trade unions, FSASH and SPASH, in Lezha district, on 26 April 2013.

Teachers, trade union school leaders, headmasters from some schools, as well as the President of SPASH, Bajram Kruja and the Director of District Educational Office Kastriot Kodheli took part in that meeting.

Vice President of SPASH, Nevrus Kaptelli spoke about GAW activities for this year in Albania, importance of qualified teachers for quality education, role of education trade unions, especially in school level and the engagement of both FSASH and SPASH, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science for a continues qualification of teachers in all levels education system in Albania.

Head of SPASH Section, Pjeter Prenga, and Head of FSASH Section, Ndue Luli, spoke about the contribution of each trade union section towards teachers qualifications and improved teaching level in all schools of Leazha district.

The meeting was also greeted by the Director of District Educational Office, Kastriot Kodheli, and the President of SPASH, Bajram Kruja.

Wide discussions were made with participation of teachers, being focused on collective agreement items on qualification of teachers, Law on Pre University education, problems they are facing to keep all children in school and improve their teaching standards.

Other activities were also organised, on the occasion of GAW 2013, in many trade union sections and schools, especially in Tirana, Vlora, Elbasani, Korca, Fieri and other districts.

Many activities were also organised on the occasion of GAW 2013, in the framework of Albanian Coalition for Child Education.

Open Forum with politicians and children on 24 April 2013

Albanian Coalition for Child Education, ACE, organised, on the 24 of April, an open forum with politicians and children in the framework of Global Action Week, which took place at Gjergj Fishta School, in Tirana. In the meeting were present students of this school and two members of Albanian Parliament, Ms. Englantina Gjermeni and Mrs. Mesila Doda. Children openly discussed with politicians on their needs, problems encountered and the concept that they have over their ideal teacher.

BIG EXHIBITION, 27 April 2013, at “Rinia” Park, Tirana

Hundreds of children, teachers, parents, representatives of civil society and various NGOs were gathered at Parku “Rinia” in Tirana to exhibit various art works under the topic "MY IDEAL TEACHER". ACE  and other NGO’s for more than one month have been collecting art works of children from different areas of Albania. They were exhibited first at Parku Rinia, which is a major public space in Tirana and afterwards for one week more at Center “TEN”. The Big Exhibition includes photographs, drawings or paintings taken from children under the concept of “my ideal teacher”.

Albanian Coalition for Child Education, through GAW 2013 activities has required from the Albanian Government:

• To adopt an Action Plan which will increase the capacity of teachers and Regional Educational Directorates in Albania;
• To increase the budget for the education system by increasing the level of GDP that is spent on education;
• To strengthen the management structures of the schools and to promote the establishment of school management committees that include students, teachers, parents and members of local communities.