Statement of the Minister of Education and Sports Lindita Nikolla following the government meeting:

We come here today after a long, but successful night on which we passed the new law on Higher Education. This law will bring a major and quality change for students of the next generations.

Beyond the fanfare and the noise made by those who do not want change, this law will provide higher education of better quality, greater opportunities for education for students in need, will encourage young people to pursue studies in priority programs or in programs that are protected, in addition to ensuring development of quality and excellence.

Said outright:

Students coming from poor families will not have to pay any money. Outstanding students willing to attend university studies in the programs of study protected or that are a priority for the growth of the country will not have to pay any money. And, of course, neither will the students of excellence. This law provided for all these categories scholarships granted by the state.

While we have another full year, all the necessary time, but also the necessary international assistance for implementing this law successfully in the next academic year, the Council of Ministers approved today, for the last time and for as long this new opportunity will be granted to universities, the shares and tuition fees. The overall number of shares allocated in this academic year is 20.211, more than the last year.

Of course, according to the Council of Ministers, tuition fees haven’t changed from those of the last academic year.

Contrary to the current prejudice, there will be no increase in tuition fees for students. They will be the same as one year ago.

Throughout these two years, the focus of the Ministry of Education and Sports, of the Albanian government, in every decision to define the shares in our institutions of higher education, the fees for opening the program of studies, a little bit more in the very important decisions to close down institutions of higher education operating as holding companies, in the cooperation with the British agency for accreditation, and lately in view of the approval of the new law on higher education and research in our institutions of higher education, has been one and only one: students and young Albanians. What is best for them and what can repay their efforts and the efforts of their parents, by providing knowledge and diplomas worth having.