Meetings with parents and Monitoring Groups organised in "Shkolla e Re" and“NaumVeqilharxhi” schools in Korca

Meetings with parents were organised in “Shkolla e Re” and “Naum Veqilharxhi” schools, on 23 December 2015, in the framework of AOb Project implementation.

Parents of pupils dropped out or at risk to drop out and returned in school, some of the parents of pupils still dropped out or at risk to drop out from school, as well as teachers, pupils and parents, members of Monitoring Groups, took part and were active in discussing about the role of parents in bringing their children back to school and keeping all children in school.
Headmasters of both schools, Romeo Rrapo “Shkolla e Re” school and Xhemlin Koleci, “Naum Veqilharxhi” school, as well as Chairman of SPASH, Nevrus Kaptelli, took also part in these meetings.

Heads of schools Monitoring Groups, Mimoza Beqirllari, “Shkolla e Re” and Enkelejda Cenolli, “Naum Veqilharxhi” school, held reports on the work done, results achieved and problems faced, being focused especially on collaboration with parents and their role in keeping all pupils in school.

They mentioned good examples of many parents, who have reflected, after concrete work of teachers and pupils with them, returning their children in school, but also cases when parents have been the main obstacle for some children to attend the school.

Many parents in both schools spoke about financial difficulties of their families which constrain them to ask from their children to work with them or on their own and assist their families to survive. At the same time, they appreciated the commitment of teachers and pupils of the respective schools to withdraw from working and return to school those pupils who have dropped out from school and accepted that with some sacrifices they can afford to bring their children in school.

In "Shkolla e Re", parent Doriana Bandilli, mother of pupil Ilia, Kostandina and Jonida Bandilli, spoke about the difficulties of their family, but at the same time she said that they will overcome every obstacle and will continue to bring their children in school. She mentioned that they have had some problems with their son, Ilia, but now everything is overcome and Ilia is attending the school regularly. She and her family was an example for many other parents who have problems with their children dropped out from school.

Parent Elvira Reshiti, mother of pupil Herkul Reshiti, explained what happened with her son, who intended to emigrate in Germany, which resulted to be very difficult, and now Herkul is back in school and will attend it regularly.

Parent Valentin Kodra, mother of pupil Andrea Kodra, accepted that they have had some problems with their son, dropped out from school, but now he has started to attend the school, even with some interruptions, missing some hours, or any days, but this has been because of their family financial situation, which is really bad. She asked by school administration and trade unions to see the possibilites of any intervention to the local authorities to find any job for her.

Parent Marsela Kostandini, mother of pupil Maradona Kostandini, described the situation of her family as really difficult, also because of the divorce with her husband, which happened some months ago, but, with some assistance from the school and classmates, also in the framework of this Project implementation, Maradona is attending the school since three weeks ago and she promised that he will continue to attend the school regularly.
Parents Brunilda Ibrahimi, mother of pupil Florenc Ibrahimi, and Juliana Zemblaku, mother of pupil Gabriela Zemblaku, appreciated the work of teachers and pupils with their children and promised that they will continue to attend the school regularly.

In "Naum Veqilharxhi" school, parent Xheko Gura, grandmother of pupil Paola Gura, thanked teachers and pupils who have assisted her granddaughter, Paola, who is now attending the school regularly after had dropped out from school. She also appreciated the assistance with textbooks and other school materials given to Paola, in the framework of the Project.

Parent Riza Cenkollari, father of pupil Mateo Cenkollari, accepted sincerely that it was his fault that Mateo dropped out from school. But at the same time he told that it was not for working, but he was taking care for him (for the father) because he was sick and was in need for some assistance. He promised that Mateo will attend the school regularly.
Parent Majlinda Kocoli, mother of Erlindo Kocoli, accepted to return her son in school, but at the same time she asked a favor from teachers and Erlindo’s classmates, to take care of him, because he is sick and time after time he needs some assistance.

Parent Fatmira Gravani, mother of pupil Jorgjeta Gravani, explained her sacrifices, bringing her daughter every day in school, from the village since three years ago. She was taken as an example of the sacrifices that a parent does for her child, which should be taken into consideration from other parents present in that meeting.

Parents Valbona Hyseni, mother of pupil Brunilda Hyseni, Martina Mustafaj, mother of pupil Martina Mustafaj, Mirela Nure, mother of pupil Kristina Nure, spoke about the difficulties of their families to keep their children in school, asking, at the same time, to see the possibilities for any assistance with local authorities, the school and the trade unions.

In “Shkolla e Re” school, pupils and teachers had collected some food articles for those parents participating in this meeting and they were distributed to them at the end of the meeting.

While in “Naum Veqilharxhi” school, pupils had prepared something to eat for participants and FSASH and SPASH handled some money as a contribution to buy some sportive materials for pupils.

Media representatives were also present in "Naum Veqilharxhi" school activities.

Parents and other participants appreciated the assistance from AOb and FSASH and SPASH  in supporting teachers and pupils of their schools commitment to withdraw children from working and bring them back to school.
Both of them were really interesting meetings and all participants were optimist that the progress will continue to be present in both schools.

Monitoring Groups meetings were also organised in both schools.
Heads of 8 Monitoring Groups; teachers Olsa Rehova, Anila Shehu, Elvira Rushi, Eljoza Spaholli, in “Shkolla e Re”, and Esmeralda Ryka, Eva Cenolli, Eleni Kocaqi, Eda Dulo, in “Naum Veqilharxhi” school, spoke about situations in each Group, mentioning pupils dropped out and at risk to drop out one by one, difficulties they have, especially those related to economic and financial situation of their families, drawing some conclusions also from meetings with parents.

They also mentioned results achieved, during the period from the previous meetings:
Other 2 pupils in “Shkolla e Re” and 3 more pupils in “Naum Veqilharxhi” school were withdrawn from working and retuned to school, as well as 14 more pupils in “Shkolla e Re” and 12 more pupils in “Naum Veqilharxhi” school were totally integrated in school, being considered out of risk to drop out from school.

Teachers, pupils and parents, members of Monitoring Groups mentioned difficulties they have faced, but, at the same time, they expressed their commitment to work hard and make possible realisation of Project objectives, appreciating AOb assistance and FSASH/SPASH commitment, as a direct support for their work.