TIRANA, Dec 10 /ATA/ – Main opposition Democratic Party (DP) lawmaker Ina Zhupa has submitted an amendment to Albania’s 2026 draft budget seeking to introduce a mandatory annual “13th salary” for all teachers in the public pre-university education system.
Zhupa said the measure aims to boost teachers’ professional motivation and strengthen institutional recognition of their role in educating future generations, bringing Albania closer to standards applied in several EU member states.
She noted that many EU states provide annual bonuses or a 13th salary for education sector employees as a tool to ensure quality and stability. Albania’s current pay scheme for teachers, despite supplements for experience and qualifications, does not include any standardised annual bonus.
Under the proposal, the 13th salary would be calculated based on each teacher’s annual base pay.
Zhupa said teachers face rising living costs, heavy workloads outside regular hours and a lack of financial incentives compared with other public-sector categories. She added that a guaranteed bonus could help reduce attrition and ease teacher shortages in several subjects.
“This is a necessary step toward strengthening the professional status of teachers and improving the quality of our education system,” she said.
/gj.m/r.e/a.f/u.sh/
