The university dormitories are ready to welcome back students after undergoing a reconstruction project particularly focusing on improving housing conditions and infrastructure ahead of the upcoming academic year.
Prime Minister Edi Rama toured the University Campus no. 2 in Tirana with many buildings revamped to meet modern standards, while construction work continues apace to complete the renovation of all residential buildings for students’ accommodation.
“The dormitory buildings have been totally reconstructed to meet highest standards and are now ready to accommodate students from the Faculty of Engineering, Medicine, Sports and Agriculture,” the Minister of Education Evis Kushi said, adding that the restoration work is in full swing to complete the project ahead of the start of the new academic year on October 11.
Given that a number of university dormitories could become available to shelter a number of Afghani refugees, Prime Minister Rama said “it is important for everyone to clearly understand that it is not about removing students and accommodating the Afghanis, but it is just about taking advantage of this time window in the run up to arrival of students.”
Students and academic staff inoculation is indispensable for a safe and normal course of the new academic year. The Premier underlined that with the world with the world struggling with the worrisome symptoms of a third wave of infection due to the Delta variant of the coronavirus, students should bear in mind that depending on the number of fresh cases and the epidemiological situation, vaccination may become mandatory for anyone who enters the auditorium.
“It is important and we will closely coordinate with all university rectors to make COVID vaccine mandatory for students entering the auditorium, taking notice of what is going on all over the world, taking notice of the spike in new cases and the high infections risk because of the new Delta variant and this should be communicated constantly. It is not a matter of choice whether one wishes to receive the jab or not, because for all those having their share of activity of being together with others it is a responsibility to protect others even if they don’t care about their own selves. So, it could be the case that at some point the vaccination of students entering the lecture halls becomes mandatory. It is impossible that we afford ourselves allowing the number of fresh cases deteriorate that would force us to resort to measures that should never be restored in Albania, because I believe we can avoid this. The university professors and students who enter the lecture halls have a responsibility to protect others while the state is under the obligation to ensure the vaccination for the people. Vaccination is increasingly becoming mandatory in countries across the world and the day will definitely come when inoculation becomes really mandatory for certain categories. Whoever working and involved in activities dealing with people at a close range cannot refuse the vaccine,” the Premier said.
