ACE advocacy continues for the increase of financing public education in Albania

The Ministry of Finances promises to ACE further consultations of the national budget for education in the months to come

Tirana, 21 June 2018– The Albanian Coalition for Education continues its advocacy campaign to support the increase of the education budget for all children’s and youth. Today ACE joined the public consultation organised by the Ministry of Finance “Progress and policies in the mid-term budget program 2019-2021"

In relation to the annual education budget (2019) and the mid-term budget (2010-2021) ACE noted that there should be a dedicated budget line for children with disabilities in order to support their attendance to pre-university education. The budget should also be assigned for schools as community centre across the country, as currently they don’t benefit any funds from the national budget. Budget should increase also for the training and empowerment of teachers.

ACE also reiterated its demand that the Albanian Government must provide free school textbooks for all children in the compulsory education and free meals to all the children that live in extreme poverty. The Coalition requested from the Ministry of Finance a stronger monitoring for the ministries or municipalities that do not consult the draft budget on time and implement sanctions required by the law if they fail to do so.

Mr. Arben Ahmetaj, the Minister of Finance, expressed his readiness and support for the Albanian Coalition for Education to consult in the months to come the national budget for education and the budget of other ministries that deal with children and young people. This is to ensure that the mid-term budget 2019-2021 is representative and in fulfilment of the citizens needs and priorities.

The Ministry of Finance also invited the Albanian Coalition for Education to monitor the budget expenditure allocated for education as well as for other services provided to children and young people.

The Albanian Coalition for Education report on the Financing of the Pre-university Public Education showed that the Albanian Government has not fulfilled its promise to assign 5% of the GDP for education. The 10-year state budget analysis showed that public investment in education since 2013 has only decreased.