On the occasion of March 7th, Teacher’s Day, Prime Minister Edi Rama participated in the ceremony honoring educators. Teachers from various fields were recognized today for their special contribution to Albanian education and to the upbringing and formation of new generations.
In his speech, Prime Minister Edi Rama praised the teachers’ work in imparting knowledge.
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Prime Minister Edi Rama:
“Greetings to all, including those few men among many women, but it’s great to have them.
I am extremely pleased today to have the opportunity to address this audience, representing those women and men, young ladies and gentlemen, who take care of Albania’s children across the entire country. I believe you are well aware of how challenging your work must be, given that so much has changed for the better, yet at the same time, so much is changing at a dizzying pace due to technology.
I am also very pleased that, among the many positive changes, we have achieved three very important things. These may seem like issues that should never have even been debated, but not only were they questioned, they turned into a major problem for the entire teaching community.”
First of all, the authority of teachers was trampled on to the worst possible extent due to the complete insecurity of their jobs. Then, of course, comes the second issue: meritocracy in the selection of teachers and their further career advancement was also completely disregarded. And third, teacher salaries were extremely insufficient, especially considering that the challenge of being a teacher is becoming increasingly difficult.
Today, in all three of these areas, the situation has been completely overturned. Every teacher in the Republic of Albania is now entirely free to hold any political opinion they choose, fully secure in their jobs, and unquestionably respected for their daily contribution.
Secondly, all those who are part of this incredibly important community for our people and our country no longer enter through the back doors of personal connections. They now enter through a single door—the door of meritocracy—through the ‘Teachers for Albania’ portal, which has been in place for years now as a law. This is not just an initiative to facilitate recruitment processes for those with the right qualifications but who previously lacked the right connections.
Thirdly, let’s see a show of hands—who would have thought that in 2024, teachers would have an average salary of 950 euros? This average salary of 950 euros is a significant indicator of our country’s economic strengthening, as well as our commitment to empowering teachers and improving their household budgets. Of course, this is a very dignified salary, but it is by no means the final goal. It is just a station along the way. We will continue to revisit teachers’ salaries, as well as those of doctors, nurses, and all those who serve this Republic and its people. Without a doubt, our ambition is to push the average salary for teachers beyond 1,000 euros.”
I won’t take up too much time—I have been given the task of calling up some teachers here.
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The school sports program, which now includes 12,000 well-organized children, has sparked not only interest but also the respect of the International Olympic Committee. This program is destined to grow, creating a completely free and new space for children to socialize through sports. At the same time, it will serve as a nursery for emerging talents, which I am convinced will help elevate Albania’s level of representation in international competitions in the disciplines we are focusing on—disciplines that will continue to expand.
I want to thank all the physical education teachers. We have had a major gap in this area. The fact is that with the arrival of democracy, along with many other changes, we also saw a staggering rise in cholesterol levels and weight per capita. The complete removal of physical education was a stab in the back in terms of public health.
Today, we are in a different position. Of course, there is still much to develop, but thanks to these dedicated teachers, who also serve as coaches, we have established a very optimistic foundation. Their commitment to the athletic development of students, their work in organizing school sports teams, and their contribution to identifying and nurturing new talents are invaluable.
For this reason, I would like to invite here a friend from the old days, Erdal Borova, a physical education teacher at “Sami Frashëri” High School, who is also recognized as the best coach.
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I wish you all a happy March 7th, and while I have the opportunity, I also extend my best wishes to all the ladies present for March 8th.
Thank you!
