Coalition for Education: Law on education in Albania shall prohibit the use of violence against children in schools

ACE proposes several improvements that will free the schools across the country from violence while make them friendly and safe to children and young people

Tirana, 18 July 2018 - The Coalition for Education in Albania (ACE) requested today in a hearing session of the Parliamentary Committee for Education of the Parliament of Albania, further improvements to the changes proposed to the law on the pre-university education system. The Ministry of Education in consultation with civil society has drafted the proposals.

This morning, ACE representatives were present at the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Media, to present the Coalition's recommendations focusing among other issue to the prohibition and elimination of all forms of violence in schools. If approved they can change the educational institutions into safe and friendly spaces for children.

One of the major proposals of ACE is the recommendation that the "Ethics Committee in Schools" to be completely transformed and be called "Commission for the Elimination of Violence in schools".

ACE proposed "In each educational institution, the Commission for the Prevention of Violence and the implementation of the Regulations in the Educational Institution should be established, which should verify, review and take measures for each case of violence in the educational institution. The Commission should consist of 2 teachers, 2 representatives of Parents' Councils and the psychologist of the institution, inter alia, considers the appeals of students, parents and employees of the institution to violations of ethical norms and behaviour. On cases of domestic violence, when the victim is a child, the Child Protection Unit closest to the educational institution is notified immediately."

The Coalition also proposed that every educational institution (public or private) should within 6 months of the entry into force of the changes in the law, adopt a Code of Conduct on the Prevention and Elimination of Violence in the School, including measures to be taken on violence when it occurs.

A special focus on ACE recommendations for this draft law was also the establishment of the National Psycho-Social Services in School as an autonomous unit within the framework of Ministry of Education services, in cooperation with the National Child Protection Agency, the General Administration of Social Services and the social services of local governments. The composition and functioning of the National Psycho-Social Services in the School should be determined by Council of Ministers decision.

At the end of the discussions that took place in the hearing, another concern that ACE expressed in its recommendations was the procedure of admission and dismissal of teachers, as well as the involvement of psychologists at the Commission for the Evaluation of teacher’s candidacies prior to their employment.