Cycle of press conferences “Economy on Focus” with Education Minister Evis Kushi:

Prime Minister Edi Rama: The today’s meeting will be held online because of the recently introduced measures, including the restriction of indoor gatherings of more than 10 participants or people. Given that you watching us now, the journalists and the technicians here would exceed the limit of ten people in this gathering, we are forced to hold this regular press meeting through the online platform.

Today, we will focus on education, especially concentrating on the reconstruction process and not only. The Education Minister has joined me to provide a complete overview of the situation in the country’s education system today.

Before I give the floor to the Education Minister and significantly cutting my opening remarks this time because of the meeting’s format, I would like to underline the fact that it is of a particular and paramount importance and I would ask everyone to help, including each and every one of you watching us now,  as everyone should be aware of the fact that it is in our hand and it is up to each and every one us as individuals and as a community living in this country to prevent overwhelming hospital, which would practically make extremely difficult providing normal treatment of those who need hospitalization and treatment, and avoid a second national lockdown.

It is absolutely necessary that each of us, every citizen of this country be aware that he has a role to play in these two directions, primarily to protect his or her own health and that of their family, relatives and friends. In doing so, everyone makes an extraordinary contribution, no matter how strange as it may sound, but the extraordinary contribution of each individual is to help the daily and nightly fight that is taking place in the line of fire, where the COVID-affected patients and those who are showing severe symptoms are being treated, also to prevent another total lockdown, which would inflict undesirable consequences in all aspects and by no doubts on the economy of each family and the economy of our common family.

Given that we are focusing on education system today and taking notice of the fact that – based on what I have come to find out at least by reading comments on my social media pages – there are repeated calls for the schools’ closure, I would like once again to state it clearly that it is up to our authorized authorities who have the expertise, as well as the legal responsibility to make decisions in these so difficult times and decide what is going to open and what is going to be shut down,

This been said, I would like to convey you and through you everyone watching us now or who will be watching us through the newsreel on your TV channels, that based on all the data and pursuing the guidelines of the scientific and health authorities in all countries we carefully monitor to learn as much as possible, schools are not seen as hot spots, but as a space just like any other space that have their own risk and danger potential. This means that it is crucially important that the rules are rigorously observed in every school, as it is actually the case, whilst the pedagogical staff should be as much patient and persistent in the rules correct implementation. On the other hand, what I have consistently and repeatedly heard from our experts I have consulted extensively with in order to learn more and be able to make comments and communicate on this issue, they say that the general assessments made regarding schools, the necessity to maintain a balance between this aspect, i.e., direct protection and psychological protection of children is on the agenda in this decision-making.

However, this is a decision-making that belongs to our authorities, it does not belong to me, it does not belong to us, it does not belong to anyone who because of anxiety, insecurity, the desire to speak even when there is nothing to say, gives opinions, sometimes in an unethical way, that schools should be closed.

I am pretty aware of this challenge. We all are aware of it, but it is of paramount importance for everyone to do their job. We need to successfully overcome this tremendous challenge of the character of everyone and our character as a nation and society.

I am giving the floor to the Education Minister and we will then receive your questions, given that you continue keeping your word, as you have already done for the sake of truth, so that this topic is not left out and is conveyed to the public and any of your question about issues irrelevant to the today’s topic be treated separately in your reports.

Thank you very much!

Education Minister Evis Kushi:  Let me start this presentation by citing some international assessment reports on Albania’s education sector. I would first like to dwell on the latest World Bank report released in September, ranking Albania among the top 10 nations out of 174 countries around the world with the greatest improvement in education and health systems.

In the meantime, I would like to point out the PISA test. In recent years, Albania has made significant progress compared with the countries in the region, as well as many European countries. Why did I point out these two reports first? I did so not to say we are pleased with what we have accomplished in the education sector. Quite the opposite; we are pretty aware that a lot remains to be done. We still have problems to address and are maximally committed to doing so. But I mentioned them to point out we are on the right track.

And it is very important, because these are both very encouraging and challenging in our efforts to move forward and further deepen the reforms we have launched over all these years. And therefore, the budget of 2021, despite the shocks the Albanian economy has sustained due to the earthquake on November 26 last year, but also due to the pandemic, two consecutive blows, the 2021 state budget for the education sector adhere to all objectives and also reflect the measures taken to deal with these natural disaster situations.

The 2021 state budget for the education system represents a considerable increase from the total amount of 41.1 billion lek in 2013, if we are to compare the budget surge over all these years. The current state budget for the education system is estimated in the amount of 75.8 billion lek.

If we calculate the GDP ratio, the indicator that confirms or better say shows the commitments of a government for the education sector, the 2021 state budget for the education, for the first time ever, will be 4.51 % of the GDP, of course, including salary hike and the reconstruction budget funds to support construction of the earthquake-damaged schools in the affected areas.

The salary hike for teachers is one of the best news the next year’s state budget brings. It is not the first time. This happened in 2017 and 2019 too, because we are consistent in our promise to increase teacher salaries and of all education sector employees. But especially today when we are facing this pandemic, and teachers, after doctors and nurses, are the true heroes of the day, because they are working every day while being exposed to the risk, they are working every day with maximum commitment and I am convinced that 15% pay hike provided under the budget of 2021 is not enough to reward their commitment and sacrifices they are demonstrating these days.

I want to emphasize once again, that the teacher salaries were increased by 10% in 2017 and 7% in 2019 by 7%, and 15% in 2015.

If we are to compare the salary level in 2013 and now in 2020, the increase is quite obvious. But, let’s refer to the average net monthly salary from 46 137 lek in 2013 to 57 451 lek in 2021. And if we are to refer to the gross salary it goes up to over 74.000 lek from around 60.000 lek in 2013.

One of the greatest accomplishments in our education system is the online portal “Teachers for Albania”, which has been highly praised, even by the Council of Europe. The platform has been widely suggested as a very positive model for other countries in the region to follow. The portal ensures not only transparency and efficiency, but especially meritocracy in teacher recruitment.

You remember quite well how the teachers’ recruitment used to work. It was either friendship with influential people or the intervention of any lawmaker or, worse, paying a hefty bribe in exchange of a job position as teacher in the public education system. Everyone is aware, even students are aware that if they are not part of the portal it is impossible for them to take up a job as teachers in the education system.

Here it is a charter showing growth of education system in figures according to the portal. The number of teachers has kept growing, showing that the portal works best and we witness its outcome every day also in the increased teaching quality, because this is what meritocracy yields, quality teaching.

Of course, together with the ongoing teacher training under a well-tailored program devised by the Quality Assurance Agency in Pre-University Education System, but also through the latest project of the school of principals, which is also best working to make sure that the teachers who are picked to run schools are trained and be not just professional teachers, but also good managers of our schools.

Another policy broadly welcomed by the Albanian families is provision of the textbooks for free. The beneficiaries range is expanding each year. This policy initially included the primary education schoolchildren, namely for grades one to four. The policy expanded to include the fifth graders, and it will further expand to include the sixth and seventh graders, and the eighth and ninth graders and the entire primary education cycle in the 2022 state budget.

The number of schoolchildren benefiting under this measure is estimated at around 250,000. This number includes not only the schoolchildren from first to seven grade, but also pupils from special social categories, or families receiving social welfare benefit or 12 other clearly determined categories to include not only primary education pupils but also high education students from needy families.

This charter, too, clearly shows number of children benefiting under the free textbook policy from 2013 to the 2020-2021 school year.

If we are to refer to the number of teaching assistants –their employment to aid students with special abilities is actually a novelty in our education system – if you are to look at the year 2013 you will find that no teaching assistants were hired in the education system to help children with special abilities. Now, not only the number of teaching assistants is increasing each year, but also quality of service to the schoolchildren of this special category is improving constantly.

The special education teacher, or the teaching assistant, is now part of the regulated professions and their licensing is underway. The initial group of 20 teaching assistants have been licensed, whom are actually given higher priority for employment, is that from year to year to increase the number of assistant teachers who serve students with special categories.

As of to date, we have built a one to four ratio, or one teaching assistant for four schoolchildren with special abilities.

If we refer to another important element which is the psycho-social service, only psychologists exercised their profession when we came to office in 2013 and their number was very limited. While today not only the number of the psycho-social service specialists attached to the school has increased, but continued training programs are implemented both by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and the Quality Assurance Agency of Primary Education, but also by our development partners whom I avail myself of this opportunity to thank them, because, even in this pandemic situation, we have been provided utmost support for various training programs, but especially in terms of tools, materials for dealing with the pandemic situation, including masks, disinfectants, thermometers , but also digital tablets.

As far as the psycho-social teachers are concerned, their number will keep increasing next year. Tests are being held by the regional education offices all over the country to double the number of the psycho-social specialists.

It is very important that especially because of the fact that hiring psycho-social teachers in the wake of the devastating earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic will significantly help students and teachers alike to cope with the distress and other related problems, as well as various phenomena such as bullying or violence in schools. Their employment in schools all over the country has been welcomed by both students and teachers, but also by parents.

More than 600 psychologists and social workers will be soon assigned to work in every school of the pre-university system across the country.

As far as the investments in the education infrastructure are concerned, we all already know that the post-earthquake reconstruction program includes rebuilding 155 educational facilities through the state budget, as well through the funds committed by various international donor, or Tirana Municipality, in three districts of the county, namely Tirana, Lezhe and Durres.

Construction of 12 schools is slated to complete soon, precisely on Nov 26, which are being inaugurated each day, whereas construction of a total of 28 school buildings is expected to complete within this year.

If we were to refer to the higher education system, the Pact on the University remains an unquestionable top priority for the Albanian government and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. I reiterate that despite the earthquake and pandemic-related problems, we will stick to our commitments under the Pack on the University.

This includes not only employment of the best performing students in our public administration institutions, in the civil service and specifically a total of 845 excellent university graduates were employed last year alone. They will keep taking up jobs in our public administration each year.

We are also implementing a broad national internship program, with more than 1000 students initially signing contracts on three-month internship programs in our state institutions. More than 200 of them become eligible to a one-year employment contact each year. We will continue implementing this program as it has turned out to be a very positive program and broadly welcomed by our university graduates.

Scholarships are certainly another important element of the Pact on the University. We are granting scholarships to best performing students and students coming from special social categories.

The number of these scholarships and the budget available to support this program has increased each year. The same foes for the excellence fund. This found has quadrupled since 2013.

This fund was estimated at around 50 million lek when we took office in 2013 and it has increased to over 200 million lek now.

We have also advanced the digital library project. Some 30,148 sections have been open to date, with 89 668 searches and 60 253 visits to the site recorded as of today.

We have also pressed ahead with the university infrastructure projects and student dormitories in particular. Three student dormitories have undergone restoration projects and these facilities in Shkodra, Vlora and Korça offer contemporary environments after having been reconstructed through state budget funds.

Two other student dormitories in Elbasan and Gjirokaster have been reconstructed through funds provided by international donors.

If I may, I would also comment on the measures the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth has introduced as part of the efforts to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic since the start of the new school year.

The decision to open schools was not an easy one, yet we made this decision after considering the best European experiences and the neighbouring countries in the region. Meetings with international experts and local health and education experts were also held in advance.

A survey was conducted, involving 120,000 teachers, students and parents. Around 86% of the respondents backed the plan to open the schools, while a detailed analysis of the situation in our schools and human resources was also conducted.

The due scenarios were designed. Three scenarios are currently being implemented. The first scenario implies that children will attend school in person. The second scenario envisages a combination of attending classes in person and distant learning. We are currently implementing the first scenario.

A guideline for all schools was drafted ahead of the new school year, clearly defining the rules and the measures all education institution employees should comply with. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education guideline is strictly observed in all our schools. Meanwhile, a very good coordination network in every school is operational, with the situation being reported regularly at the end of each day and in real time. We know every day how many teachers have contracted the virus, or how many students are infected, in every school, in every area all over the country.

Since day one of the new school year, I have been inspecting the education process and implementation of the anti-COVID measures. I want to assure that I have often paid surprise visits to certain schools to see the reality for myself, because it is clear that when the Education Minister visits a school, the teachers’ preoccupation is higher, but I have paid surprise visits to closely inspect the situation in our schools. During the inspection visits I have found out that teachers and students’ awareness is at a maximum level.

I have often said that schoolchildren are even safer inside schools rather than when playing outside their apartments or when they go to shops or other public and private spaces, because I can assure you all that teachers and our teams at schools are totally committed to respecting the anti-COVID measures. Every suspected case is reported and any teacher or schoolchild showing symptoms undergo the test.

A minor number of cases have been recorded when we have been forced to shut down schools and disinfect them when coronavirus cases have been identified among teachers and pupils. However, based on the Council of Ministers’ decision, we have employed a total of 1000 substitute teachers in order to cope with any potential situation.

We have certainly employed this contingent of 1000 teachers all over the country. We update this contingent on daily basis, since a higher number of these teachers are needed in the so-called red areas where the infection rate is much higher. In the meantime, the infection rate in certain municipalities is much lower and only a small number of these teachers are deployed to cope with the situation.

These substitute teachers are also employed through the online portal “Teachers for Albania,” because it is crucially important not just to replace a teacher, but make sure that quality teaching is provided and normal conduct of teaching process is ensured.

Another important element we have invested and we are working hard especially amid the current situation is the distribution of smart devices, phones and tablets to every school, especially to schools featuring collective classes.

Unfortunately, collective classes are still a reality in our education system, in spite of continued improvements and reduction of the number of pupils attending collective classes each year, thanks to the government’s reforms and policies. Specifically, around 45,000 pupils attended collective classes in 2013 and their number has been already halved today. However, the collective classes are still a reality and we are strongly committed to fighting this phenomenon.

We are fully aware of the difficulties these classes encounter compared to normal classes. That’s why, with the assistance of donors, we have equipped schools with smart devices, phones and tablets for the collective class pupils to use them not only when learning goes virtual, but also in normal conditions. We have taken all necessary measures to make sure that teaching and learning process continue uninterrupted even if we decide to employ the mix system between class attending in person or online learning.

The first step we took was launching a dedicated educational broadcasting channel, with early learners, primary and secondary students being provided the opportunity to attend lessons and lectures featuring highly experienced and best teachers in Albania. As you already know, the channel was launched just two days after the total lockdown was imposed in early March. The educational broadcasting channel was launched immediately to provide pupils and high schools students the opportunity to attend all lessons.

An agreement has been reached with the National Radio and Television broadcaster this year to ensure that the lessons continue every day during the ongoing situation, but the dedicated channel will be operational also during a normal situation once the pandemic is over. This broadcasting channel will remain operational when the pandemic is over by airing various entertainment and creative programs in order to improve education quality and allow students to further improve their knowledge.

In addition to the educational broadcasting channel, we have also signed a contract with the online platform akademi.al, with digitalization being today one of the most important elements in every sector, including the education sector.

More than 1200 teachers across Albania have attended a training program, while registration with the platform continues each day. The largest part of teachers and students has been registered with the platform.

Virtual classes have been established too. Work is also underway to make sure that we are all well-prepared for any potential situation.

Once again I emphasize that we are every day in the territory, in a constant communication with the heads of education offices each day, with the heads of regional directorates of Pre-University Education precisely to ensure that teaching continues normally, to primarily safeguard the teachers and students’ health through the system I already mentioned, in very close collaboration with our health institutions but also to guarantee the quality of education.

To conclude, I would like to say few words about the online teaching in our universities. Starting the 2020-21 academic year with only online classes due to the coronavirus pandemic was actually a tough decision, but the Committee of Experts suggested that universities, and the university dormitories, could turn into COVID hotspots, meaning that students coming from various districts across the country could contract the coronavirus while in Tirana and spread the virus then in other less-affected areas of the country. I am not going over details, because the Committee of Experts has explained it clearly.

What pleases me most is that our universities are prepared to cope with this situation, because I have had frequent meetings with the university rectors to discuss the measures ahead of the new academic year.

What we had agreed upon and what we have already made public is that the academic year was to start by combining face-to-face and online teaching; more specifically the lectures were to be delivered online since the number of students attending lectures is much higher, whereas the workshops were to be held face-to-face. But the dynamic of the situation forced us to choose the online teaching only.

Our universities are prepared in terms of technology and programs. I understand students who, of course, were not happy the first few days. It’s more than normal.  I have said that if I were a student I would not want to attend online teaching or distant teaching from home and instead I would have opted for face-to-face teaching in the classroom. But this is a sacrifice we must all make for the common good and to curb the spread of the virus.

The situation in universities is increasingly improving in terms of the number of students attending online classes. Universities have already developed an initial experience during the total lockdown in the second semester of the last academic year.

I hope everyone respects the rules as much as possible and this is very important not only in the pre-university system, but for all citizens in order to return to the normality we all want as soon as possible.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Meanwhile, before the journalists start asking their questions, I would like to make a brief summary on the reconstruction process in the education system.

There are a total of 155 educational facilities in 11 municipalities. A fund of 18.5 billion lek or $185 million has been earmarked, specifically 7.5 billion lek through the state budget and 11 billion lek provided by international donors to support construction of the school buildings.

I would like to reiterate this so that it is clear to all of those who are unclear when it comes to the reconstruction sites, that what sites you have seen so far are all funded by the state budget.

Meanwhile, the new construction sites due to open will be funded by partner countries, starting with the EU that will finance the construction of 62 schools; German government 3 schools; Slovak government 4 schools; government of Slovenia 1 school; government of Qatar 3 schools. In addition, funding for the construction of 23 other educational facilities has yet to be secured.

The educational facilities funded through the state budget are either being constructed or construction work is about to complete soon. However, I would also like to provide a brief outline on the educational facilities due to be funded by the international donors and construction work has yet to begin, because they pursue slower procedures.

A total of 37 educational facilities, out of which 30 schools due to be constructed from scratch and seven due to undergo partial reconstruction;

Durres – 30 schools, 23 to be constructed from scratch, 7 to undergo partial reconstruction;

Kruje – 18 schools, 14 brand new school buildings, 4 to undergo partial reconstruction;

Kamez – 21 schools, 10 new schools, 11 under partial reconstruction;

Kavaje -12 schools, 3 new schools, 9 under partial reconstruction;

Kurbin – 10 schools, 6 new school buildings, 4 under partial reconstruction;

Shijak – 6 educational facilities due to be constructed from scratch;

Lezhe – 6 educational facilities, one new school building whose construction has already completed, and five schools will undergo partial reconstruction;

Rrogozhine – 6 educational facilities, 4 brand new schools, two under partial reconstruction;

Vore –7 new schools to be built from scratch;

Mirdite – 2 educational facilities, one new school, and one under partial reconstruction.

These are figures to provide a clear picture of all construction sites in the quake-affected areas.

–Mr. Prime Minister, I have a question for you. Taking notice of the anti-COVID-measures, I would like what hinders Albanian state from introducing rapid diagnostic tests, given that private health sector has already done so, turning these test kits into a very lucrative business.

Second question, if I may, the recently-introduced anti-COVID measures ban also electoral meetings, as gatherings of more than ten people are not allowed. How would you act amid this situation just five months to the upcoming general elections and how do you see your political rivals when it comes to observing this measure banning electoral meetings and gatherings of more than ten people?

PM Edi Rama: It is not me the one to impose measures. The anti-COVID measures are imposed by the Technical Committee of Experts. I don’t either observe the measure compliance as there are institutions tasked with observing the measures compliance. Therefore, I find totally impossible for me to answer your question about how do I see my political rivals in this respect.

Understandably, like everyone else, I have seen what either I and every other citizen wouldn’t have wished to see, the most scandalous example of the law violation by the President of the Republic, the First Lady and their entire band that while it is quite clear to everyone that no gatherings of more than 10 people, parties and weddings, and even funerals cannot involve more people than the family members, they show up in a disgusting spectacle of contradicting not only the law, but also the health of the others, if they are not interested in their own health. I haven’t seen anything else specific more than that.

Health definitely is more important than anything else and there could be no other event, no political activity, including electoral activities that take higher priority over the citizens’ health. Moreover, the electoral campaign has yet to begin, but we haven’t interrupted any electoral meeting. We should simply reduce the number of participants to only ten people in any event. This is all and this number should even reduce further, if possible.

Everyone should do utmost effort and avoid do not leaving their houses if it is not necessary. You can certainly not certainly stay at home if you have to go to work. But if we were all to avoid leaving our homes for a coffee at a cafe, parties, to lunch or dine, we would all give a precious contribution, helping hospitals to do their job and they are not overwhelmed by a sudden surge or an influx of patients, on one side, and so that we do not become a reason to threaten the health of everyone around us and our own health.

As far as the rapid diagnostic tests are concerned, I apologize but I will no longer speak about tests, because this has become an ugly and banal theatre and I am not going to contribute to such a theatre, because this is a discussion to be made by experts and scientists, and these are not discussions that can take place in every cafe and, moreover, these are not discussions for me to involve in, since I am neither an expert, nor am I interested in fuelling such a completely misguiding discussion.

–Mr. Prime Minister, no data of whatsoever is to be found on the transparency section of the online reconstruction website. What has happened with the academy of transparency about the pledges committed by the international donors? I would recall the fact that Mr. Palmer himself vowed to support this academy, saying that the United States will provide $3.9 million to support this academy?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: I don’t know what you mean by saying that the transparency section provides no data, because everything is transparent there. Any action regarding the reconstruction process in financial or procedural terms is published on the dedicated website and you can find it there. If you have any specific question, you can apply with the office of the Minister of State for Reconstruction and you will be provided answers about everything, including the academy you just asked about.

–Mr. Prime Minister, many parents have recently voiced their concern over the absence of the teachers for their children, but no reports about the number of teachers contracting COVID-19 have been made public. In other words, many teachers have been absent, but their two-week absence is not reported are not reported as COVID-19 cases. What is happening with this situation? Do you have a precise number of teachers who have contracted the coronavirus? And secondly, Mr. Basha has actually recently held a meeting with teachers to discuss the situation amid the COVID-19 pandemic and teachers themselves have expressed fear that if they are to report the fact that they have contracted the virus, they risk losing their job.

PM Edi Rama: First of all, it is absurd to say that if someone reports that he or she has contracted COVID, they risk losing their job. This is an absurdity that can certainly sound normal in the absurd acts of the theatrical play staged by Lulzim Basha with actors who appear around him, while having a profession or a certain activity in their daily lives. They are actually party fanatics, capable of speaking even absurdities about their own party. It can’t happen. How can it possibly happen? Who can even conceive, let alone believe, that a teacher would lose his or her job if he or she gets sick? It is a great madness. This cannot happen.

As to the comments that certain parents claim that the coronavirus cases are being hidden, this is a total absurdity too. It is totally impossible that there could be coronavirus cases that need treatment by the system and the latter refuses to consider their treatment. I mean health system. It is totally impossible for this to happen. These are things unfortunately said among the baseless rumours and therefore I urge everyone to address to the health authorities, refer to the official data, defend themselves from the virus and the fake news too. I do certainly understand stress and anxiety and there could be more serious anxiety than that of the parents about their children, yet I can’t realize how it could be possibly imagined that a teacher can lose job if he or she gets sick, or that teachers leave without any address and don’t report if they are identified as infected persons. Don’t also forget that there are certainly cases when someone in your family has tested positive for the virus and you have to observe self-quarantine for this fact. It is the most normal thing to take place, a completely common procedure. When you don’t feel well after being in contact with an infected person you should observe self-quarantine. In other words, this doesn’t necessarily mean that all are identified COVID cases. Moreover, things cannot be hidden, because there are no reasons to do so. Second, the cases cannot be concealed, it is theoretically, let alone practically, impossible.

Therefore, I would appeal to everyone to focus on the official information sources only. All other sources are questionable, to say the least, not to mention sources that deliberately spread panic, deliberately spread a sense of uncertainty to deliberately cause anxiety.

–Mr. Rama, I have two questions to ask. First has to do with the fiscal amnesty. Even though we are in a pandemic situation, at end of July, the Parliamentary Committee on Economy postponed discussion on the proposed fiscal amnesty in order to closely consider all concerns and demands from the interest groups, the bank’s association, as well as the Internal Monetary Fund and the European Council. Given that we are in the middle of a pandemic situation, I wonder if the government has backtracked on the fiscal amnesty to reconsider the law at a further notice, be it next year, or after the April elections.

I have also a question for the Minister of Education, Mrs. Kushi. A troubling message was forwarded to our colleague Ola Bruka at the newsroom of the News 24 TV channel just few minutes ago, with a group of parents of children at Shyqyri Peza school in capital. They have expressed concern over the fact that children are told to leave their classrooms during the class hours because the schools premises were to be disinfected. Does it seem a completely inappropriate moment for children to walk out of school when they should be in their classrooms to attend classes?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: A short and very simple answer can be provided to your first question. The two, namely the amnesty and the pandemic have nothing in common.

As to the second question, the Minister can provide an answer, however let me tell you and the parents that everything can be done during this time. Yes, children can be asked to leave their classrooms, if for one or another reason the school premises should be disinfected. I don’t know for sure what has happened in this very case, but in principle schoolchildren can certainly be asked to leave their classrooms so that they are disinfected. What’s the reason for concern, since we are not living in normal times?

Education Minister Evis Kushi: I, too, need to be informed first about this concrete case concerning the “Shyqyri Peza” school, yet what I can say in advance is that the guidelines are very clear and accurately predict any possible situation, how school staff, in collaboration with health institutions, should act in each situation. So, if a teacher or a student is found to have high temperature, or showing symptoms of infection, the guideline provides detailed instructions how the school principal and teachers should act, who they should inform, and when disinfection is done and everything else. The anti-coronavirus measures have been strictly observed in every school as of today. So, I will immediately verify the case in question as soon as this meeting ends. I can also say that I am pleased with the school staff’s prompt reaction, as they haven’t waited for the classes to complete in order for the disinfection to take place, they have acted immediately. However, I have to verify the case first.

I want to add something else, since it struck me a lot that there are teachers who have supposedly claimed that they risk losing their job, but I can assure each and everyone and with full responsibility state that no such case has ever happened. Not only that, but we do complete the opposite of what some claim. If a teacher happen to observe self-quarantine or turns out to have contracted COVID-19, we provide maximum support to any of them. I personally receive and initiate phone calls with teachers and school principals, who have contracted the virus and are receiving treatment at home, or receive information about the condition of the hospitalized teachers. I want to assure you that we haven’t thought about firing teachers even in our wildest of dreams. In the meantime, I can confirm that all teachers receive full payment, even though they may be absent for a week, two or three until they fully recover from the disease. So, our and health institutions support has been as such that teachers are even given high priority when it comes to undergoing the COCID test or receiving the test results. We have always attached high priority to schools as part of the efforts to handle this situation.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: It would be a complete waste of time to discuss such a sheer stupidity. It is definitely the sheerest of stupidities I have ever happened to hear about.

Me poshte vijon pjesa e trete e konf per shtyp te KM Rama dhe Ministres se Arsimit Evis Kushi:

–Given that a part of my questions concern issues that are now already exhausted, since the Education Minister noted a bit earlier that schools are not coronavirus hotspots, let’s say the most dangerous environment in terms of the risk of spreading the virus, but on the other hand, so far from the onset of the pandemic hundreds of teachers have been infected and 7 of them have lost their lives. Should other measures be reviewed in order to avoid the spread of the infection in schools as much as possible?

The second question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Few days ago, the Democratic Party chairman Lulzim Basha accused the government of concealing the Covid-19 death toll in the country. You have responded through political accusations without citing facts and figures. If the government can provide a figure, what is the percentage of people who have died at the COVID-designated hospitals have been reported as COVID-19 victims and how many other people who have contracted the coronavirus have died of other complications and, on the other hand, what is the percentage of fatalities are reported as COVID-related deaths when the victims are treated at homes? Has the government reported the deaths of individuals who have been receiving treatment abroad?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: First of all, as far as schools are concerned, I don’t know how many times I should reiterate, but I am going to tirelessly repeat that it is not the government to make the decisions about opening or closure of anything. It is not the government to make the decisions, but the Technical Committee of Experts, the authority that possesses the expertise and mandate to make decisions of this kind based on the law. The Technical Committee of Experts has ample time to monitor, provide a detailed analysis, create a picture of the situation, draw comparisons, discuss and consult with counterpart bodies in other countries and draw conclusions. This is not a football match with 25,000 football fans sitting on stadium stairs playing the role of the coach by certainly knowing how to do the coach’s role or to better and easier score rather than the players in the pitch. We are at a war where discipline is needed, sense of high responsibility is needed and where, of course, everyone has the right to expressing his or her own opinion, but at the end of the day we should all be aware that respecting the rules is a must for everyone.

Once again, what I say, when I say for example that the cases around the world have shown, contrary to what it was originally believed, that schools do not represent the most dangerous environment in terms of the risk of spreading the virus. In no country this assumption has not turned out to be true. On the other hand, the health authorities have frequently reiterated that a balance between opening and shutting the schools down should be a prudent one, because it turns out to be true that a decision to close schools would have considerable negative psychological effects on kids. When saying all these, it doesn’t mean that I know all these, but I have been told by experts and I try to convey them to you. Once again I would avail myself of the opportunity to tell you and everyone else that experts persistently repeat their demand that I consistently should urge citizens to focus on the official data and information and call for as many measures as possible to protect people from fake news and every sort of hogwash and nonsense as they trigger a certain psychosis and this is actually the goal of the stupidities and the nonsense talks that are being disseminated irresponsibly in the relevant community and the entire society.

As to the issue of the COVID-19 death toll, I am very sorry that such a debate goes on. I have already clarified and others have also clarified on the issue. It is theoretically impossibly, not practically, but theoretically impossible. These are not votes in DP elections that, as history has shown, are counted according to someone’s will. The votes appear and disappear magically. It is impossible for us to conceal the death toll. It is as simple as that. It is impossible to happen. Why?

Because there is no other authority or other power but the doctor who determines the patients’ medical diagnoses and fills the medical records of those who unfortunately lose their lives and it is the doctor who is legally, humanly, professionally held accountable about this. The enormity of such an act and false statement means that one should think that doctors are not only irresponsible but also fools who tread upon their own selves, violate the law by altering the patients’ diagnosis. What is the point of all of this, who would be interested and who would benefit from this, it is something that only the imagination of those who dare to use the dead and death simply as part of a desperate struggle for power. There is nothing to discuss about this issue. It is heinous, shameful for us here to discuss it. It is really disgraceful, because there is no way that it can happen, it is impossible. The doctor is the one to determine the medical diagnoses. It is the doctors who determine whether it is because of this or that diagnosis and this is what they do all over the world. It is not us the ones who should discuss this issue here, let alone the politics or the political parties that made diagnoses. So, I don’t know what other answer I can provide, but I know this is the right answer and there could be no other answer.

– The first question has to do with the vaccine. Initial signs show that two sort of vaccines, cheap and expensive vaccines will be available in the market. Which will Albania chose? The second question has to do with the government. Has the government any plan to support tourism and clothing and footwear industry as two hardest-hit sectors that still continue to feel the blow from the pandemic?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: We have supported these sectors by whatever we can and don’t forget for a single moment that we are not like the others in this war, as we face another much bigger war to return thousands upon thousands of families back to their homes. Those thousands of families can return back home only if new houses and apartments are built and houses and apartments cannot be built by the Holy Spirit, but through funds that the government has earmarked and made available in full to support both.

As far as the anti-COVID vaccine is concerned, we are currently not at a phase where we can afford choosing a cheap or an expensive vaccine, but we are at a phase when we are making utmost daily efforts to first and foremost make sure that we make a vaccine available and then start with vaccination of doctors, nurses and health workers first and then teachers, policemen and entire population. You should bear in mind that extraordinary efforts are being made by all countries to secure largest shipment possible of the vaccine and the quantity due to be produced won’t be sufficient to meet the demand from day one.

What we need to make sure is that we should not remain at the tail-end of the situation; second, we make the vaccine available to these categories of people first so that they receive the vaccine as soon as possible. We are of course not as advantaged as the vaccine manufacturing countries or the developed powerful nations are, or the European Union itself is. This is the reason we are making all efforts so that we are not left out of this process and be not forced to wait at the end of the queue. This is our challenge. Whether the vaccine will be cheap or expensive, this is another irrelevant issue. We have spared no efforts when it was about things linked with the most important elements of life. I talked about the new houses, but I can keep on talking about many other things. So, we will spare no efforts and expense in this obligation too, despite the vaccine’s price. And this doesn’t mean that we will secure only one sort of vaccine. We can secure all sorts of the vaccines, if we will succeed in doing it, just like other countries are doing. As far as I have seen, no country is focusing on one sort of vaccine only. However, this is a very intense process taking place currently. We have tasked a whole group of people dealing with the vaccine diplomacy and I hope we won’t lag behind in this respect. This is what matters most, while the vaccine price is the last thing to talk about at this moment.

–Data from the International Monetary Fund show that lending to the Albanian economy is at the lowest levels in the Western Balkan region. Why banks haven’t supported business plans and even the private-public-partnership projects and why Albania is not reliable for banks that refuse to issue loans?

A question for the Education Minister; a report released last week notes that six universities have spent a total of 0.1% of the budget or around EUR 38,000 from around 32 million lek earmarked for scientific research programmes. Is the Ministry of Education aware of this fact and does the Ministry of Education audit the university spending to check where their money end up, to support research programmes or luxury spending?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: To set the record straight, the banking system’s lending to the economy recently is higher than during the same period of the previous year and than a period over several years. Others are all reading manners and I have desisted from expectations that the media and journalists reading when it comes to the economy be deeper than merely taking an excerpt and using it to make questions or comments, which, strangely enough, are always negative ones. However, it is impossible for me and I am not tasked with correcting this, but my answer is what I already said. You can verify it, because it is easier for you to do that rather than grasp what you read from the IMF.

Education Minister Evis Kushi: As far as the report on the university spending is concerned, actually when the Ministry of Education audits the financial performance or the way how the universities spend their money, we don’t refer to these sources, but two official sources, first the Audit Department at the Ministry of Education and, second, the State Supreme Audit. We will actually soon conduct an audit action of all universities across the country. It was just few days ago I signed the audit plan, because it is a routine process, once in several years or once in several months. So, an auditing plan is ready and specialists from the Ministry’s Audit Department will soon go to every university to check their financial performance. A team of auditing experts from the Ministry of Education are already conducting this process at the University of Elbasan, but the process will continue with the performance audit of other universities in order to verify this information provided by various organizations and foundations, but which we should definitely verify through the official institutions, including the State Supreme Audit and the Ministry’s Audit Department.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Thank you very much!