TIRANA, Nov 2 /ATA/ Prime Minister Edi Rama, together with Minister of Public Administration Adea Pirdeni, today presented a new plan to transform and assess the public administration through a merit-based system, with a focus on improving services for citizens.
“This distinction should not be left to the discretion of individual managers; it must be established and ensured by the system itself,” Rama stated.
He added that better salaries and working conditions alone cannot address the underlying issue of merit, noting that public concerns over whether employees are fairly recognised for their performance have become increasingly common. However, he cautioned that the situation is not entirely clear-cut but involves several nuances.
Rama acknowledged that higher salaries and training opportunities alone do not guarantee a merit-based administration, arguing that the system must objectively distinguish high-performing employees from those who only meet minimum requirements. He stressed that career advancement and access to greater responsibilities should depend on demonstrated abilities rather than the personal judgement of individual managers.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the introduction of a unified national examination as one of the plan’s main innovations, giving candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills against a common standard when applying for positions in the public administration.
Rama said the examination will be conducted in cooperation with the Educational Services Centre, which is adapting the Cambridge examination model.
Candidates who pass the test will receive a certificate valid for four years, allowing them to apply for relevant positions within the public administration.
The Prime Minister clarified that the certificate does not guarantee automatic employment but is intended to establish a fairer and more transparent recruitment process.
Rama announced a unified national examination for entry into public administration, based on the Cambridge model and designed to ensure equal standards and transparent recruitment. Successful candidates will receive a four-year certificate allowing them to compete for relevant positions, without guaranteeing automatic employment. The initiative aims to provide young people across Albania with equal access to public sector careers based on merit rather than personal connections.
