National Teacher Prize-Albania

A teacher is a compass that activates the magnets of curiosity, knowledge, and wisdom in the pupils - Ever Garrison

Tirana, March 2019

WHY A NATIONAL TEACHER PRIZE

In Albania, there are more than 35 000 teachers that every day with dedication convey their knowledge to every child who attends the pre-university education across the country.

In Albania, throughout this long period of transition, the teaching profession has undergone few improvements. The visual and written media mostly treat inappropriate episodes that occur on school premises, while there are thousands of teachers that despite the difficulties, challenges, difficult terrain, practice with professionalism and convey knowledge to children. In addition to scientific knowledge, teachers also equip children with human values, which play an important role in building lifelong relationships with others, forming individuals with extraordinary potential to develop the country.

Various studies in the field of teaching highly value the role that teachers play in the lives of students. According to the UNESCO study "Rethinking Education. Towards a global common good? teachers are considered as key actors in shaping children from early childhood throughout the learning process trajectories.

Albanian Coalition for Child Education, a network with the broad participation of civil society organizations and teachers’ unions, believes that the teachers figures should publicly rewarded by the relevant institutions, community, and society for all the contributions they make every day in education of children nationwide.

To realize this, Albanian Coalition for Education, Children's Rights Centre Albania in cooperation with Varkey Foundation will organize for the first time in Albania the National Teacher Prize.

TEACHERS PRIZE IN NATIONAL AND GLOBAL LEVEL

Everyone has had a teacher who has been a source of inspiration during the school years and that has influenced us throughout our lives.

Teachers have the power to inspire passion for a subject or field of study, the kind of passion that lasts forever, while a monotonous teacher overshadows any desire to learn. Teachers who have shown the ability to bring a significant change in the lives of their students deserve to feel valued.

The National Teacher Prize aims: "To identify and evaluate nationwide the teachers for their contribution in the teaching profession, in helping children during the learning process, the use of innovative techniques, protecting and advocating for a comprehensive and qualitative education for all children throughout the country. "

Albanian Coalition for Education and CRCA Albania, joined the initiative of Varkey Foundation to organize for the first time, the National Teacher Prize Albania, the winner of which will have the opportunity to compete in the Global Teacher Prize, the event organized annually by the Varkey Foundation.

WHO IS VARKEY FOUNDATION

The Varkey Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established to improve the standards of education for underprivileged children throughout the world. The Varkey Foundation's mission is that every child should have a good teacher and they do this through building teacher capacity, advocacy campaigns to promote excellence in teaching practice at the highest levels of policy making and providing grants to partner organisations that offer innovative solutions in support of their mission.

To make possible the assessment of the teaching profession, in March 2014 during the World Education and Skills Forum, the Foundation launched the Global Teacher Prize as an appreciation to teachers who have made a valuable contribution to the teaching profession. The price so far it is gave three times.

GLOBAL TEACHER PRIZE

Global Teacher Prize, who has been evaluate by the media as "Nobel Prize in Teaching", is an initiative taken by the Varkey Foundation, which assesses the teaching profession and reveals thousands of teachers’ stories who have contributed to the transformation of children and youth lives. Global Teacher Prize expresses gratitude for the work that millions of teachers do across the globe. The award is awarded annually under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister and Emir of Dubai. The Global Teacher Prize is a prize of $ 1 million USD, which is award to a teacher who has made an extraordinary contribution to his profession.

Winner over the years: 2015 - Nancie Atwell USA, the award announced by the US President Bill Clinton; 2016 - Hanan Al Hroub, Palestine, the award announced by Pope Francis; 2018 - Maggie MacDonnell, Canada, the award announced by the European Space Agency satellite on the space.

From 2015 to today, over 100 countries around the world have joined the Varkey Foundation initiative, organizing in their countries the National Teachers Prize, whose winner then enjoys the right to participate in the Global Teacher Prize.

GOALS OF THE NATIONAL TEACHER PRIZE

National Teacher Prize aims to:

Bring in the spotlight of institutions and the public the importance and appreciation for the teaching profession;
Share best practices with other teachers in teaching, innovation, academic achievement, etc;
Serve as an example for teachers and young students to love and be devoted to their profession;
Highlight the values of our teachers;
Give the opportunity to parents, community and society to publicly express their gratitude and appreciation for all teachers;
Provide opportunity for winning teacher to participate in the Global Teacher Prize organized annually by Varkey Foundation.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

All teachers who teach in public and private pre-university education in the Republic of Albania can participate in the National Teacher Prize.

HOW AND WHEN THE PRIZE WILL BE REALIZED

National Teacher Prize will be officially opened at a press conference, following an open call for teachers nomination that have made contributions in the field of teaching in pre university education system will be shared through the website of the Albanian Coalition for Education, social networks, as well as all other traditional means of communication.

Every teacher, school staff nationwide, may participate in the nomination, accompanying it with a biography and work contribution of selected teachers or itself, reference letters, achieving an introductory video etc.

Five will be the main evaluation categories:

Teacher of the Year in Teaching;
Advocacy Teacher of the Year for the right to education;
Teacher of the Year in Innovation;
Teacher of the Year as a contributor to academic achievements;
Teacher of the Year in Preschool Education.

WHO GIVES THE PRICE IN ALBANIA?

Albanian Coalition for Education and CRCA joined the initiative of Varkey Foundation to organize in our country the National Teacher Prize, whose winner will compete in the Global Teacher Prize, the biggest event in the world who appraises the figure and mission of teachers.

Albanian Coalition for Education (ACE), is an non formal network, established in 2004, with the aim to advocate for the fulfilment of children and young people right to equitable, quality and inclusive public education. Albanian Coalition for Education is a member of the Global Campaign for Education and organizer of the annual activity Global Action Week of Education.

Children's Rights Centre Albania, CRCA is one of the main non-governmental, non-political, non-religious and non-profit organizations, based in the capital of Albania, Tirana. CRCA has been established in March 1997 with the main goal to help in improving the situation of children's rights in Albania. During the years of its work, CRCA is become one of the most serious partners of the Albanian Government and Civil Society.

WHEN THE PRIZE WILL BE AWARDED IN ALBANIA

During the month of May will be arranged a Press Conference, in which will be presented publicly the initiative National Teacher Prize Albania. A call for nominations will be widely disseminated through the media and traditional communication channels.

During the month of June nominations will be gathered, separated by the above categories. To make possible the selection and evaluation of candidates a jury of prominent figures from the academic, public figures and journalists, will be established, who during September, after evaluation, will select the 20 best teachers. Profiles of teachers will be made public on the official website of the Albanian Coalition for Education. An open forum with the participation of selected teachers will be organized during September-October. The winners will be launched in early October 2019; in a public event, the jury will announce the winning teachers of the National Teacher Prize Albania.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

To make possible the selection and evaluation of candidates a jury of prominent figures from the academic, public figures and journalists, will be established, who after evaluation, will select the 20 best teachers.

Five will be the main evaluation categories:

Teacher of the Year in Teaching;
Advocacy Teacher of the Year for the right to education;
Teacher of the Year in Innovation;
Teacher of the Year as a contributor to academic research achievements;
Teacher of the Year in Preschool Education.

Some of the criteria on which the Jury will evaluate the candidatures, unified with the Varkey Foundation evaluation criteria are:

• Achieve demonstrable learning outcomes in the classroom. For example, by improving student grades, student tracking / behavior; helping students grow, display their potential, and so on;

• Recognizing the achievements of a teacher in the classroom and beyond, by students, colleagues, school leaders, or community members and beyond. For example, through prizes given by relevant authorities, Teachers Recognition in the local / national press or who have written academic publications; Active membership in a non-governmental organization that promotes the advancement of children's rights;

• Using innovative and effective teaching practices that are reproducible and affecting the quality of education. For example, using innovative technology or non-typical teaching techniques that can be used in other classes / schools;

• Educating children to become global citizens by providing them with a value-based education that provides them with life skills, makes them capable of work and prepares them for a world where they will meet people from different religious, cultural or national backgrounds.

• Encouraging teachers to stay in the profession, developing their skills, and encouraging other teachers to join them in teaching profession.

CONTACTS FOR MEDIA

WEB: http://www.acce.al/

E-mail: linda.pino@crca.al

Mobile: +355676075400

CONTACTS FOR TEACHERS, PUPILS AND PARENTS

WEB: http://www.acce.al/

E-mail: linda.pino@crca.al

Mobile: +355676075400