Cultural and sportive activities and Workshop
organised in “Ahmet Zogu” and “Halit Cota” schools in Bathore
17-18 April 2015

Following GEW Project implementation, various cultural and sportive activities and the two days Workshop were organised in “Ahmet Zogu” and “Halit Cota” schools in Bathore, on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 April 2015.
 
These two days activities started with massive cultural and sportive activities organised on Friday, 17 April 2015, in the premises of “Ahmet Zogu” school.
More than 100 pupils, mainly from those dropped out or at risk to drop out and being integrated in school, as well as their classmates from both schools, took part in many sportive and cultural activities, including football, volleyball, athletic, paintings, singing, dancing, recitations and so on.

Taking into consideration the wide participation of pupils who performed these activities and almost all teachers and pupils from both schools, as well as parents and other people form the community, we can say that it was a day of a real feast for all Bathore area around the school, also with massive participation of pupils teachers and other people in dancing and other activities.

Both Chairmen of FSASH, Xhafer Dobrushi, and SPASH, Nevrus Kaptelli, as well as headmasters of both schools, Azem Kovaci, (“Ahmet Zogu” school) and Mahmud Ajazi, (“Halit Cota” school) also attended the cultural and sportive activities.

All 24 teachers engaged in Project implementation and many other teachers, especially those from physical education and music, were the organisers of these activities.
It was important that their organisation was taken really seriously, especially by teachers concretely committed to organise them, like Gentjan Tota, Rigerta Alimeti, Sadete Spahiu, Nimete Sokoli, Hide Luca, Rabie Damzi etc.

Most of activities were organised in form of competitions between schools and different classes. Special commissions followed by near results and identified the winners, who were announced at the end of activities, also with participation of both FSASH and SPASH chairmen.

It was really impressive when we saw active participation of some pupils, who had left the school and turned back after the work done in the framework of this Project implementation, as well as many others from those at risk to drop out from school, who are now integrated normally in school, like Antonela Kurti, Ergys Lacka, Ergest Spahiu, Antonela Deda, Kljadi Kurti, Emiliano Delia, Akil Kotarja, Ernida Tollja, Antoneta Coka, Naslie Ymeri, Gezime Paci, Lirie Rexhepi, Enida Molla, Sara Spahiu, who were among the best in cultural and artistic activities, as well as Farie Poka, Stelina Kaca, Daniela Cupi, Amariolda Rexha, Emira Beluli, Beniamin Shehu, Ergys Krashi, Klevis Pjetri, Fatjon Pasha, Olsi Doci, Alban Prenci, Dorian Domi, Artiola Hoxha, Bruklin Murati, Ardiane Skarra, Hana Shahu, Paola Gjeka and so on, who were among the best in sportive activities.

The organisation of these activities was a good example also for Kamza Area Educational Office and other schools’ administrations of Tirana district and even wider, in national level.

Really useful was the Workshop organised with participation of 37 teachers, pupils and parents, mainly from Monitoring Groups’ members.

Both Chairmen of FSASH, Xhafer Dobrushi, and SPASH, Nevrus Kaptelli, as well as headmasters of both schools, Azem Kovaci, (“Ahmet Zogu” school) and Mahmud Ajazi, (“Halit Cota” school) also took part in the Workshop.

A detailed Workshop program, last editions of FSASH and SPASH publication, “Tribuna Sindikale” Magazine, the Brochure “Elimination of Child Labour, an Important Trade Union Issue”, published in the framework of FSASH-SPASH Projects implementation, a special Brochure on Collective Agreement, as well as other publications like SCREAM Modules, the Manual on Non Formal Education etc, where some of the materials of Workshop file provided for each participant.

The Workshop was organised in three different sessions.

During the First Session, the Chairman of FSASH, Xhafer Dobrushi, was focused on theoretical training and explanations on:
- International standards and national legislation on prevention and elimination of child labour, elements of Child Labour Monitoring System, good practices and lessons learned in FSASH and SPASH commitment to prevent and eliminate child labour in Albania.

-An important part of Dobrushi’s presentation was focused on ILO Conventions 138 and 182 and the Albanian Law on children protection, as well as the Albanian Council of Ministers Decision on the list of Hazardous work in Albania.

Discussions from participants followed these explanations, also making some proposals, on Albanian legislation and especially regarding the implementation of existing legislation.

During the Second Session, the former National Coordinator of ILO-IPEC Office in Tirana, Mrs. Etleva Vertopi, made special presentations on:

1. SCREAM package - “Supporting Children’s Rights through Education, Arts andMedia”: the most important Modules, how can teachers, education trade union members, raise awareness of children against child labour and how teachers can use SCREAM Modules in their daily work.

2.Non-Formal Education Manual, Teaching methodology and learner-centeredapproach, learning styles, learner attributes and the related teaching approaches.

Explanations were accompanied with concrete exercises, especially regarding SCREAM different modules with interactive participation of teachers and pupils present in the Workshop.

In the Third Session, the Coordinator of Project implementation, Stavri Liko, made a wide presentation on the Brochure “Elimination of Child Labour, an Important Trade Union Issue”, published in the framework of FSASH and SPASH Projects implementation, being focused especially on practical Guidelines about teachers trade unions engagement in child labour prevention and elimination and lessons learned from FSASH/SPASH commitment to prevent and eliminate child labour.

During the following Session, the Workshop was focused on concrete situation of Project implementation, work done, results achieved, working methods used, conclusions and duties for the future and so on.
This was the most important Session regarding this Project implementation.

Heads of Monitoring Groups, Bukurosh Hoxha, (“Ahmet Zogu” school) and Dila Vuksaj, (“Halit Cota” school), held detailed reports on the work done, problems faced, progress made and duties to make possible the realisation of  Project objectives.

Teachers  Drita Cerpja, Gazmend Halili, Izet Nabolli, Agim Lilollari, from “Ahmet Zogu” school and Marjeta Kamberi, Fabjona Gjuta, Bukurie Ajazi mand Marie Froku from “Halit Cota” school, spoke on behalf of their respective Monitoring Groups, informing on the situation, analysing one by one each pupils subject of Project implementation in their Groups, mentioning individually pupils turned back in school, those who are out of risk to drop out from school and those who they are still working with to be returned to school. 

Concrete interventions made also parents, Kujtim Hysneli and Bujar Stafhasani, as well as pupils, Bruklin Murati and Brisilda Dunga, who mentioned the work they have done with parents and pupils and results they have achieved in returning pupils in school.

After that, it was a free discussions Session, where participants who took the floor expressed their open opinions, especially what can be improved in project implementation activities and how to increase the role of education trade unions in keeping children in school and supporting progressive developments in education system in Albania.
Discussions in this session were really concrete, based on concrete experience they are gaining in the process of Project implementation, also mentioning the results achieved and expected project objectives realisation.

Based on the figures mentioned during reporting session and these discussions, the actual situation regarding Project objectives realisation is as follows:

In “Ahmet Zogu” school, 4 monitoring groups composed of 20 teachers, pupils and parents have mobilised almost all teachers of the school and many pupils and parents, working with more than 85 pupils dropped out or at risk to drop out from school. 

As a result, out of 19 pupils dropped out from school, 9 of them are turned back, meanwhile out of 65 pupils at risk to drop out from school, 42 of them are attending the school regularly and other 4 have made progress in attending the school and the work is continuing with all pupils still missing lessons hours per day or days per week.

In “Halit Cota” school, 4 monitoring groups composed of 20 teachers, pupils and parents have mobilised almost all teachers of the school and many pupils and parents, working with more than 65 pupils dropped out or at risk to drop out from school. 

As a result, out of 18 pupils dropped out from school, 10 of them are turned back, while out of 47 pupils at risk to drop out, 32 of them are attending the school regularly, being considered out of risk to drop out and other 2 have made progress in attending the school.

An Action Plan was discussed and approved during this Session, planning detailed elements of concrete and effective individual work with each of the pupils still dropped out or at risk to drop out, aiming to bring them back in school as soon as possible.

Headmasters of both schools, as well as teachers, pupils and parents appreciated this support from GEW Foundation, mentioning the improvements done and results achieved in the framework of this Project implementation and promising the continuation of their work to make possible this Project objectives realisation.

Special meetings were also organised in the framework of these two days activities, with Monitoring Groups members, where was discussed widely especially regarding the measures to be taken for those pupils still dropped out or those who still miss the school hours per day or days per week, as well as preparative measures for the next activities, and especially for the Conclusive Round Table to be organised by the beginning of June 2015.

Many thanks were expressed during the Workshop and all other activities by teachers, pupils and parents towards GEW Foundation, for this concrete support, making possible all of these activities and results achieved.