The construction sites to build two nine-year schools were opened today in the village of Marikaj, Municipality of Vora, a Tirana suburb, after the school buildings were destroyed due to the powerful earthquake that hit the country on November 26 last year, causing tremendous damages also to the education institutions. The two schools will be construction on the ruins of the old schools and they are part of the reconstruction program to rebuild a total of 129 schools, designed to meet highest architectonic and education standards up to the European standards.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, accompanied by the Minister of State for the Reconstruction, today visited the newly-opened site in Marikaj, where one of the project managers provided an outline of the project on the two new schools. “The new school will feature all needed education facilities, gyms, and sports grounds. The new school will house nine classrooms and four labs. It will also include three separate classrooms for the preschool pupils,” he said.

The old school in Marikaj, built in 1975, had fallen into decay over the years and the conditions for around 250 students had worsened. “We constantly refer to the European standards, but in this case it is not about European standards in general, but the new building will really meet the true standards of the schools in the EU member states,” PM Rama said.

The Premier also put emphasis on the completion date in construction contract, insisting that “building should complete on November 26 to make sure that children enter the new school on November 27, precisely one day after the anniversary of the terrible predawn disaster.”