Teachers, pupils and parents

discuss how to keep all pupils in school

AOb project implementation in “Asdreni” and “Naim Frasheri” schools in Korca

Two important meetings with parents were organised by the end of November 2010, in the framework of AOb project implementation in “Asdreni” and “Naim Frasheri” schools in Korca.
Parents of children dropped out or at risk to drop out from school, subject of concrete work of teachers and pupils to return them in school, parents of children already turned back in school as a result of the work done during three months of project implementation, as well as parents, members of monitoring  groups, took part in these meetings.

Teachers and pupils, members of monitoring groups, as well as Chairman of FSASH, Xhafer Dobrushi, Head of Organising Department of SPASH, Nevruz Kaptelli, representative of Korca Regional Educational Directorate, Kostika Kapidani, took also part in both meetings.

In “Asdreni” school, Head of Monitoring Groups’ Team, Martha Xharo, informed participants on the work done, results achieved and problems faced during this period of project implementation.

She mentioned that 5 monitoring groups composed of 20 teachers, pupils and parents have mobilised almost all the teachers of the school and many pupils and parents, working with more than 200 pupils dropped out or at risk to drop out from school.  As a result, out of 28 pupils dropped out from school, 5 are turned back in school, other 3 have made progress, hoping to be returned in the coming weeks and the work is continuing with all other 20 pupils dropped out.

Regarding pupils at risk to drop out from school she mentioned that out of 180 pupils, 32 are fully integrated in school, other 14 have made visible progress and the work is continuing with all other 134 pupils still missing lessons hours per day or days per week. She pointed out the effective work of teachers Vangjel Lena, Bruna Skrapi, Suela Duka and so on. Then she was focused on the role of parents and the efforts of teachers and pupils to convince them bring their children in school. She pointed out the effective work of parents Florenca Lubonja, Fuat Orhani and Valbona Xhafka who have worked directly with many parents of pupils dropped out or at risk to drop out from school.

Following, the Headmaster of the school, Ylli Kreka, appreciated the assistance of AOb and the role of education trade unions in mobilising teachers in the school and outside in pupils families making possible visible progress in keeping pupils in school and returning some of those dropped out from school. He mentioned the concrete case of teacher Aferdita Lumani, who has worked hard with pupil Kristi Stojani, bringing him back in school and assisting him to have good performance in learning. He asked from parents, present in the meeting, to bring their children in school and play an effective role also with other parents, who force their children working instead of going to school.

Parents, Samina Çoçi, Marjana and Gezim Hyseni, Orleta Koroleci etc, expressed their gratitude to the work that teachers are doing, but at the same time they explained their very difficult economical and financial situation which constrains them asking from their children to help them in providing for food and other vital provisions. Teacher Irena Vreto sincerely asked from parents not to overload their children with their problems and their trouble, because this has a direct negative impact in their childhood development.

Wide discussions and debates made this meeting really effective and useful, also drawing some conclusions on the work to be done in the future during this school year.
Chairman of FSASH Xhafer Dobrushi and Head of Organising Department of SPASH, Nevruz Kaptelli, confirmed the continuous commitment of both organisations, also through AOb support, to make possible realisation of project objectives for the school year 2010-2011 and beyond.

Almost the same procedures were followed in “Naim Frasheri” school. In the presence of almost the same stakeholders from the school and the area where this school is situated, the Head of monitoring groups’ team, Mailinda Tona, informed participants about the work done, results achieved and problems faced. She mentioned that working as teacher in “Naim Frasheri” school creates a lot of difficulties. Almost all the 350 pupils of this school are from Roma community, with poor families and low educational level of their parents.

In the situation when 61 pupils have dropped out from school and other 240 are at risk to drop out, it means that only a small number of pupils in this school attend it regularly and have good performance in learning. Under these conditions, in the meeting was pointed out that teachers and pupils of this school are working hard to improve the situation. AOb project implementation is considered a direct support for their work and they ask from education trade unions FSASH and SPASH to support their work, especially through intervention to the Ministry, local government authorities and other institutions to provide some financial assistance for these families, in order to back their efforts to keep children in school.

Working in the framework of project implementation, they have turned back in school 7 pupils. Other 6 have made progress, hoping to be returned in school in coming days. In addition, more than 65 pupils out of 240 at risk to drop out are now integrated in school, attending it regularly and making progress in learning.
Role of parents in bringing their children to school was on the focus of this meeting. Deputy headmaster, Mevlude Isallari, as well as teachers Florenca Kardhiqi, Niko Dreni, Valentina Nikolli, Florrie Senija, Andrea Tollkuçi etc, spoke about their experiences with parents of pupils dropped out or at risk to drop out, giving positive examples, but also negative ones. They also mentioned concrete cases related to children of parents present in the meeting.

Alketa Dauti, parent of 5 children in schooling age, has 4 of them attending the school. She spoke about the difficulties her family is facing and she told to the participants in the meeting that she is not able to bring also the last one, because together with him they have to provide at least for bread. We are proud, she said, that we are providing our life provisions by working and not by begging on the street.

Majlinda Seiti, mother of two children in schooling age, told to the participants that we are making all our efforts to bring in school the younger boy, Erisold Seiti, who is attending the 4 th class, but it is impossible for us to bring in school also the elder one, who is assisting the family to survive. Almost the same situation described also parents Mirela Zhymi, Gjergji Rrapushi, Diana Myrtollari, etc.

Present in the meeting, Chairman of FSASH Xhafer Dobrushi and Head of Organising Department of SPASH, Nevruz Kaptelli, promised to explore all their possibilities to assist “Naim Frasheri” school, also through Ministry of Education and any other foundation, based in Tirana.

Coordinator of the project, Stavri Liko, spoke in both meetings, about next activities to be organised in the framework of project implementation, mentioning also the artistic, cultural and sportive activities, as well as the seminar which will be organised during the first months of next year, where will be combined theoretical explanations about international standards and national legislation on child labour prevention and elimination and a concrete discussion about the progress made and new tasks to make possible realisation of project objectives.