Education
Most pupils in Albania still face an outdated education system. In general the schools have
shortage of equipment, laboratories and teaching aids. School settings are not child
friendly and not appropriate for children needs.
The Ministry of Education estimates that about 18 percent of teachers are unqualified and
the number of teachers who encourage children’s participation in the classroom is very low.
The out-dated teaching methods, that are currently used, do not encourage effective learning
and generate passive learners. In addition, enrolment rates are particularly low among
marginalized groups such as Roma, Egyptian and Children with Disabilities.
Save the Children Albania Programme (SCiA) is working to improve the quality of education,
mainly teaching and learning. We also aim to ensure equal access and meaningful
participation by all children in mainstream education with a particular focus on children
with disabilities, Roma and Egyptian.
Programme history
We have been working to improve the future for children in Albania since 2001, by developing
the quality and accessibility of education. Through our Cluster Schools project, (which ran
from 2001-2004) we have helped and supported everyone involved in education – pupils,
teachers, parents, school directors and local education directories. Schools, that are
located in close proximity, have been grouped in supportive networks or ‘clusters’. These
networks enable schools to share resources, and to spread knowledge about active learning,
children’s rights, inclusion of disabled children and social issues of concern to children.
In 70 schools in two districts of Albania, we have trained teachers in new teaching methods
and have trained other education officials on effective school management and organisation.
Children have set up student governments to make sure their opinions on their education are
heard. Through the schools’ networks, parents and local communities have been encouraged to
participate in school activities and their children’s education. In total, 11,000 children
have benefited from the project.
In 2004 Save the Children started a new education programme in partnership with the
Government that covers the whole of Albania.
Quality Education Programme
Our quality education programme is based on
the most successful elements of the cluster schools approach, such as in-service training
for teachers and support for children’s participation.
Programme Components
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In-service teacher training
“Before, we, teachers considered the children’s individual differences as a barrier for the teaching process. Now we are aware that these differences reflect values and also we learned how to develop these values through the use of progressive child centred teaching technique,” expressed a primary school teacher from the town of Shkodra.
Capacity building for teachers is imperative to the development of Education in Albania. This year, the capacity building program for teachers conducted throughout Albania emphasized skills building for teachers to develop their competence and enhance the use of child-centred teaching techniques as well as inclusive approaches with children in their classes. Through the cascade approach to training teachers, we have enhanced the skills and increased the capacity of 340 local teacher trainers and about 170 education specialists and inspectors in 13 regions of Albania. They have been able to reach and train a further 4,000 teachers, who in turn are making learning more enjoyable for 85,000 children.
The teachers’ improved skills and practices have enhanced and motivated children to actively participate and interact in class. Children are enabled to freely articulate their ideas. Their opinions, their intellect, imagination and creativity are stimulated. This encourages children’s learning effectiveness and makes them more active participants in their education.
Improved skills among teachers mean that their attitudes are changing. From initial resistance and hesitation, trained teachers have now advanced towards practicing Child- Centred Teaching Methods. During class observations, it was noted that the best teachers have gained competences in the use of these methods and in promoting active participation of their pupils during the learning process. Trained teachers are becoming a valuable resource to internal school capacity building. They are routinely organizing model lessons and discussion sessions with school colleagues on Child-Centred Teaching Methods and inclusive education.
The teachers consider the training delivered and the materials provided as a great opportunity and invaluable support for them to develop their teaching skills and knowledge equipping them to update their teaching strategies. The success of this activity has also been due to the positive cooperation between Save the Children’s Education Programme and the state Institute of Curricula and Training (ICT).
In 2008, a new initiative, the first in its kind, aiming the improvement of the school administration has started to be implemented in 65 pilot schools. Save the Children is supporting the process of piloting the compilation of mid-term school development plans (SDP).
- Roma Children Education Project
New work started during 2008 to support Roma children’s education in some pilot areas. This
is expected to expand during 2009 to a national level by feeding the information and experience via
the in-service teacher training on a country-wide basis. The work to provide Roma children access to inclusive and qualitative education will involve work with REAs in the selected areas, with pilot schools and kindergartens as well as with the community as a whole.
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Inclusive Education (project district level)
Save the Children and its local partners are continuously struggling to bring education to the most vulnerable children and reduce the learning barriers for them.
Intensive support and capacity building activities on inclusive education have been organized for teachers, school directors, local education staff, social workers and psychologists in three pilot districts. This made possible the growth of a cadre of 152 teachers, who are now well trained and work under the principles of inclusive education. In addition, 200 other teachers have been noted for their changed attitudes towards issues of diversity. They’ve become more interested in inclusive and pupil-centred methods practiced by their colleagues.
Inclusive practices applied by the trained teachers contributed to a greater equality of opportunities for all children in their classes. Pupils attending inclusive classes are able to positively recognize each other’s individual differences and strive to support each other’s efforts. Children have developed their creativity, tolerance and enjoy playing with each other.
Due to teachers’ improved knowledge and skills and the application of it in class, 123 children with disabilities have benefited from a more inclusive atmosphere. This also helped these children improve their academic achievements and their school life in general. To encourage and measure children’s progress, individual education plans were developed with substantial input by the parents of these children as well as school psychologists/social workers.
This project’s results enhanced cooperation among the local education authorities, specialists, inspectors and school head-teachers, and helped strengthen the management and implementation of policies in the education. This ensured inclusive and pupil-centred teaching practices and the maintenance of a positive school ethos benefiting not only children with disabilities but another 2500 of their peers, many of whom are pupils with learning difficulties and Roma children.
The implementation of the inclusive education project made schools more accessible and helped to improve the quality of education for all children.
The significant achievements were recognized by the Ministry of Education which is increasingly committed to replicate, jointly with Save the Children in Albania, the best practice models and approaches of Inclusive Education to other new regions of the country during the forthcoming year.
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Child Participation
Child participation is an increasingly prominent focus of Save the Children Albania’s education programme. We are working to ensure that children’s voices are heard in matters that affect them. In our ongoing initiative to support Children’s Governments, we are enabling children to actively participate and be meaningfully engaged in the school life.
Supported and trained by Save the Children in Albania’s Education programme, members of 57 Children’s Governments, in five regions, have increasingly addressed challenges and problems they face and have become part of school level decision making. They have been consulted about decisions on drafting school regulations, use of uniforms, assisting children in need and have presented their views on issues of violence in school.
Children have improved their ability to debate and helped transform the school environment from being focused on rote learning to one of interaction between teachers and students which promotes increased individual and group creativity. These children have also gained knowledge in inclusion issues and have organized inclusive activities for and with marginalized children. About 15,000 children have benefited from these inclusive activities organized in schools. Children in need, Roma children and Children with Disabilities have been part of this and jointly organized these activities with Children’s Government members.
Additionally 100 Children’s Government members have gained knowledge about School Development Plans, active participation in school consultative bodies and an anticorruption package issued by Ministry of Education. As the result, they have shared the knowledge with their school mates and have planned and implemented activities for decreasing the level of violence in their schools.
Participation and involvement has encouraged these children’s social development as well. They have improved their self-esteem and communication skills. They have learned how to work cooperatively and respect each others’ efforts and views. They have gained knowledge on conflict resolution and other topics that relate to children’s rights.
With our support children of 57 schools and their Children’s Government have had monthly access to Child Participation and Children’s Rights related information published in the “Little Mermaid” magazine. Children use this resource publication to present their issues of concern, write articles on the functioning of Children’s Government share their experiences and present case studies concerning relations with teachers and peers. Most of the information included in this publication is contributed by children. This publication is for children 6-15 years and is distributed to children in 57 project included schools.
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Advocacy
Save the Children Albania’s Education programme efforts to lobby for changes in policies and practices in education has resulted in major changes being put into place that favor children’s rights implementation in schools.
Children’s rights have been, for the first time, concretely addressed by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and included in the new academic year official guidelines which are used by all schools in Albania. These guidelines encouraged schools, education authorities, specialists and teachers to better manage and implement school plans, programmes and curricula, and motivate them to develop mechanisms for promoting Inclusive Education and Children’s Participation.
In general positive results have been noted, mainly in the increase of children’s participation and community involvement in schooling.
We have continued to contribute to the Global Education Campaign with the theme “A Friendly School for Everyone”. Children identified and implemented children’s rights awareness raising activities at both the central and local level.
Our education programme achievements in Inclusive Education and Child Participation have paved the way, using the best models for a joint replication with the Ministry of Education to other new regions of the country. Due to our lobbying efforts, Regional Education Authorities increased their involvement in Inclusive Education project work and their sensitivity regarding the rights of children with disabilities to quality education.
Research was conducted aimed at improving knowledge about the situation of Roma children’s education.
The data and information is helping the Ministry of Education and Save the Children’s new project work to find the best ways to promote Roma children’s inclusion in basic education in two pilot areas in Korca and Gjirokastra.