In February of this year, the Pediatric Specialty Hospital at the University Hospital Center Mother Teresa (QSUNT) began providing services for young patients from across Albania. The facility offers dignified care in line with European standards, with a capacity of 140 beds and 17 day-care treatment chairs. It is projected to perform approximately 35,000 consultations annually, over 24,500 specialized examinations and more than 5,000 laboratory tests through its outpatient pediatric consultation services.
But that’s not all. For the first time, the hospital infrastructure also includes dedicated educational spaces to assist children who spend extended periods in the hospital.
Currently, two fully equipped classrooms have been opened, featuring state-of-the-art digital technology and essential didactic materials, thanks to the model introduced by the Israeli SASA Setton Foundation.
Through a dedicated team of teachers, the two classrooms—one multidisciplinary and the other an art studio—will provide hospitalized children with structured educational instruction, along with supportive curricula tailored to their emotional well-being, according to age group.
Prime Minister Edi Rama visited the Pediatric Specialty Hospital at Mother Teresa University Hospital Center today, accompanied by the Minister of Education and Sports, Ogerta Manastirliu, and the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Albana Koçiu, to see firsthand the newest investment.
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“Thanks to the valuable support of the Sasa Setton Foundation—represented here today by its president and team—we have now successfully opened both of the learning classrooms. One classroom serves as a collective space for learning through technology, as well as following the school curriculum for children who are hospitalized at the pediatric hospital. The second is an art classroom dedicated to extracurricular activities.
We have assigned four teachers from the public education system, along with one permanent teacher based in the pediatric unit—a primary school teacher. These four teachers will be part of the newly established school within the pediatric hospital. Both fully functional classrooms will offer not only education but also entertainment for the children receiving treatment at this hospital.
The capacity is sufficient, and we are prepared to offer learning through both technology and books, in line with the school curriculum. There will also be personalized instruction, made possible thanks to the training provided by the Sasa Setton Foundation, which is equipping us with an entirely new methodology,” explained Minister of Education Ogerta Manastirliu.
Knowledge acquisition will take place under optimal conditions in terms of educational technology, ensuring that young patients feel as comfortable as possible. Despite their physical condition, they will be able to have a positive and engaging learning experience.
“We have built two classrooms—one is a multidisciplinary room equipped with technology and coding tools. The idea is to bring the best, the latest technology, into the children’s hospital, and also to motivate the kids, because sometimes being in the hospital can make them feel a sense of shame. We want to empower them, make them feel proud, and create a positive experience. We have three printers, coding equipment, and virtual reality headsets to help children learn subjects like math, English, and the human body through technology,” said the representative of the Israeli Foundation, emphasizing the dedication of the teaching team.
“We have an excellent team of teachers. Each teacher is equipped with a tablet, so they can go directly to the child’s bedside and teach them there. We also have materials in the Albanian language for the teachers to use. Part of what we’re doing is to continue training with our hospital in Israel, so that their hospital teachers can train the teachers here. We’ve assigned four teachers for the two classrooms, and we’re immediately starting with ongoing training so we can move forward hand-in-hand with our partnership, to deepen this project and eventually expand it to other hospitals as well,” he added.
Together with the Prime Minister on this visit were also representatives of the Israeli SASA Setton Foundation, who expressed their gratitude for the cooperation provided by the ministries involved in the project. “Thank you for appointing such excellent ministers, because the cooperation has been truly exceptional—100%,” they stated, while highlighting that through advanced technology, they are offering educational programs in mathematics, human anatomy, English, and more.
Sharing their experience from hospitals in Israel, the foundation’s leaders emphasized their ongoing commitment to implementing innovative teaching methods and integrating curricula that also support the medical treatment and recovery of patients.
“In Israel, we have at least five hospitals that are entirely focused on art—everything is connected to art. There is art therapy, especially in psychiatric hospitals, and they have chosen this approach, developing a special curriculum that teaches children of all age groups through art-based methods—up to the age of 18. Here, it’s not yet designed for all age groups, but gradually we will gather all the necessary information. We now have this art room for children.
We know that the use of art—and you as artists understand this well—can be a powerful means of healing. Through art, children can express their emotions and the difficulties they are facing.
Of course, there is also a small library for young children where they can play with LEGOs, and there is also a smart tablet. All the necessary features are in place in this room,” they explained.
