TIRANA, October 14 /ATA/ – Minister of Education Mirela Kumbaro reacted today to the student protest on its second day.
Kumbaro stated that she is following with great concern the events of the past two days surrounding and inside the Ministry of Education building and other institutions.
“I have the utmost respect for students’ right to demand ever more from institutions; however, civic student protest and violence against public buildings and property—violence against the workplaces of public servants and especially against education staff—are two different things,” she said.
“Beyond the investments already made—and those continuing—at every university in the country, over 12,000 students from the poor families receive financial support for their studies each year; more than 40,000 students benefit from reduced tuition or fee waivers; and hundreds of high-achieving students, as well as those pursuing priority programs the country needs, receive scholarships and monthly support equivalent to the minimum wage of 500 euros,” Kumbaro emphasized.
Minister Kumbaro stated that the future is built in lecture halls—through vision, knowledge, reasoned arguments and responsibility.
“Do not let anyone incite you to violence. Your voice is powerful precisely because it is expressed through ideas and dialogue,” Kumbaro concluded.
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