TIRANA, November 3 /ATA/ – During presentation of the draft budget for education for 2027, Minister of Education Mirela Kumbaro stated before the Committee on Education, Science and Sports that all five budgetary programs will see a significant increase, with pre-university education receiving over 1 billion lekë more in funding compared to 2026.
She highlighted the provision of an assistant teacher for every child with special needs as one of the most important initiatives aimed at fostering inclusivity in education.
“One of the most significant initiatives concerns the provision of an assistant teacher for every child with special needs. Previously, the ratio was one assistant teacher for every four children; by 2027, we will reach a ratio of one assistant teacher for every single child. This is a highly ambitious program, especially considering that the number of students with special needs in the pre-university education system has risen from 4,500 to 6,039 for the current school year—an increase from the approximately 4,000 students in this category recorded for the 2024–2025 period. This is partly due to an increase in the number of children falling into this category, but also because the Ministry of Education has expanded the age range for support—now covering children and young people aged 3 to 19, with the age limit extended to 21 for certain groups,” stated Minister Kumbaro.
Furthermore, Minister Kumbaro announced that 500 million lekë from the 2027 education budget will be allocated to the “After-School” program, extending the time students spend at school as much as possible—up until 5:00 PM.
Regarding the funding for the construction and reconstruction of educational facilities, Minister Kumbaro noted that, “For the 2027–2029 period, we are planning approximately 120 such projects, with a budget of around 88 million euros. /e.i/a.f/r.e/p.s./
