Rebuilding educational facilities is in full swing after the devastating earthquake that hit Albania in November 2019. One of the facilities currently being reconstructed from scratch is “Sami Frasheri” high school in Tirana, where construction work continues despite bad weather and the pandemic.

Prime Minister Edi Rama inspected the ongoing work to construct the new school building accompanied by the Minister of Health Ogerta Manastirliu and the Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj, who former students at “Sami Frasheri” high school.

“This was one of the most controversial school construction projects with many claiming that it was to be built in Paskuqan, Kamez or elsewhere.  That’s why we faced difficulties in our work, but the hardest part of it has already completed and the final product will be a new school building with its capacities doubled. When I and Ogerta used to attend this school, it had 24 classrooms, whereas the new school will have 50 classes,” Mayor Veliaj said.

The new high school design provides not only for the building’s doubled capacity, but it also represents another work of contemporary architecture. It will also increase the value of the properties in the entire surrounding area. “The school has currently 1400 enrolled students, whereas the new building will house 1500 students. This will put an end to the inherited double-shift system,” Veliaj said.

Prime Minister Rama praised the new project, saying the ongoing work speaks for itself. The government head noted that the debates over this school will go on, but the project will move forward. “Most importantly, the school will be built and all this fresh energy will bring an added value for students, teachers and the community here. This school project will definitely become an added value for the entire neighbourhood, because such a project, combined with the Zogu I Boulevard rehabilitation project, will increase the value of properties and the commercial units.”

 

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The old dilapidated building of “Murat Toptani” school, which was reduced to rubble in the November 26 earthquake, has superseded by a modern structure built back stronger, safer, larger and more beautiful to provide contemporary education standards for students and teachers in the neighbourhood of Selita in Tirana.

Work to construct the new educational facility kicked off 40 days ago, while work is in full swing to ensure that the structure is built and become available to teachers and students as soon as possible. Crews work incessantly at the construction site, which was visited by Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Mayor of Tirana Erjon Veliaj, to closely inspect the ongoing works. “The old school had around 40 students, whereas the new one will have 360. This way we will be able to cope with the demographic growth of Selita,” Veliaj said.

The new school is expected to urbanize entire area, whose population keeps constantly growing. “The new school is designed to be a three-storey structure, with the first floor set to house the gym and some classrooms, and the two floors will house classrooms, labs and the teachers’ rooms,” the project implementation engineer said.

 “Murat Toptani” school will also include classrooms for preschool kids. “Construction of the new school is scheduled to complete by end of March and we will try to make it possible for its students to return to their new school for the rest of this semester,” Mayor Veliaj said.