Tirana 23 May 2016- In the framework of the Global Action Week “Fund the Future” and with request of Albanian Coalition for Child Education, the Education and Means of Public Information parliamentary committee organized a hearing session on the pre-university education system in Albania. Apart from ACCE members, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Finances, UNICEF-Albania, Save the Children and SOROS joined the meeting.

Mr. Pollo, chairman of the Committee appreciated the interest expressed by CSOs in organizing the hearing session and expressed the committee interest to organize such public consultations time after time with main national stakeholders that work in the education field.

Mrs. Pino-National Coordinator of Albanian Coalition for Child Education focused her speech in three main issues who generated discussions among the parliamentarians present in the hearing session. The improvement of legislation for the protection of children against violence and bullying in the education institutions, the broad based consultation with main stakeholders of the state annual budget and the absence of a national public television channel dedicated to the children were the main concerns presented.

Mrs. Koka representative of MEDPAK, evidenced that the absence of assisting teacher, lack of function o multidisciplinary committees, lack of transportation as well as the deficiency of the provision of disable and vulnerable children with textbooks are some of the problems they face every day and main factors and that prevent them to attend the school regularly. She urged that an increase of state annual budget to the education would make a change for their education.

For the first time in the Education and Means of Pubic Information Committee children had the opportunity to make them voice heard. Henri Drinjak, presented to the parliamentarians the results of “Vote for Education” campaign by emphasising the need for qualified teachers, quality textbooks and closely related to Albanian reality, the equipment of labs with adequate didactic materials for all.

The state annual budget was one of the most debated issues. Representatives of Ministry of Education and Ministry of Finance declare that only 3.3% of the state annual budget will be allocated to the education sector.  A figure that will continue to rank Albania among the last countries in the region for the level of investment in education and contrary to the obligation of the state in receiving appropriate measures to ensure access to public education quality and inclusive for all. Representatives of Save the Children and UNICEF shared the same problem.