TIRANA, Nov 11 /ATA/ The Minister of Economy and Innovation, Delina Ibrahimaj, stated today that vocational education and the labor market are crucial for increasing the productivity and competitiveness of the Albanian economy.
During the discussion on the principles of the 2026 draft budget in the Committee on Education, Science, and Sports, Minister Ibrahimaj noted that the main objective is to establish a high-quality, resilient, and inclusive vocational education system that prepares young people to meet the real needs of the labor market.
The Minister emphasized that currently, 19% of secondary education students are enrolled in vocational programs, compared to just 13% a decade ago, while the target for 2030 is for one in three students to attend Vocational Education and Training (VET).
“A key role in this reform is played by the dual education system, which combines theoretical learning in schools with practical training in businesses,” the Minister stated. “In the first year, 222 students participated, compared to 360 this year, while the objective for the 2026–2028 period is to expand participation to over one thousand students, ensuring the mandatory involvement of the private sector in governance and the delivery of practical training models,” she added.
The Minister reported that the budget allocation for vocational education in 2026 amounts to 4.9 billion lek, representing an increase of 9.13% compared to 2025. Of this amount, 1.47 billion lek are designated for the reconstruction and construction of schools, the establishment of practical laboratories, the procurement of technical equipment, and the advancement of digitalization. Additionally, 313 million lek are earmarked for scholarships and reimbursed textbooks, alongside the modernization of curricula to align with the evolving needs of the real economic sectors.
Ibrahimaj emphasized that the reform is underpinned by comprehensive structural measures, including the accreditation of all vocational education and training providers, the life-long professional development of educators, the full digitalization of learning platforms, and the formal recognition of non-formal and informal learning outcomes.
“Concurrently, the Innovation and Digital Economy Program is designed to prepare Albania’s economic framework for the demands of the future,” stated Minister Ibrahimaj. “The total allocation for the innovation program amounts to 578.6 million lek, which includes funding for the Albanian Center for Innovation and Development and the Innovation and Technology Fund. These entities will provide comprehensive support to startups through targeted training, acceleration programs, technological laboratories, and pilot initiatives. The objective is to strengthen the competitive capacities of the Albanian economy within an increasingly digitalized and integrated European marketplace.”
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