The protesters gathered in the area in front of the Ministry of Education for a peaceful demonstration—different from protests just a few days ago, which escalated into acts of violence against institutions and clashes with the police.

The protesters assembled in the middle of Durrës Street and vehicular traffic along this route was diverted due to the protest.

Police officers were stationed in front of the Ministry of Education building, where they formed a cordon.

The lecturers have also been supporting the students; for several days, they have boycotted classes, joining the young people’s demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Meanwhile, the State Police have taken the necessary measures to ensure security and the orderly conduct of the protest. As part of these measures, a water cannon truck was positioned near the Assembly Presidency, while law enforcement forces were deployed to monitor the situation and maintain public order.

The students said that at 14:00, they would move to the area in front of the Prime Minister’s Office.

For the past 19 days, students, lecturers, and citizens have been protesting in Tirana against the current political class, demanding the resignation of the head of the government, as well as better educational and living conditions. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

A group of students set off from the Faculty of Medicine and joined the other protesters in front of the Ministry of Education.

Police forces were stationed in front of the Ministry of Education building, along with a water cannon truck, if tensions arise with the protesters.

The youth-led protest continues to be supported by faculty members from the public universities, who have boycotted classes since October 21 in a show of solidarity with the young people.

Today, the students continued to call for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama while gathered in front of the Ministry of Education.

They set fire to some cardboard and two dumpsters in front of the Ministry of Education building.

After gathering for two hours at the Ministry of Education, protesters moved on to the Prime Minister’s Office to continue their rally.

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University and high school students marched from various directions toward Skanderbeg square, subsequently gathering once more near the Ministry of Education building.

At the very start of the protest, the young people threw stones at the Ministry of Education building; the police responded by dispersing them with tear gas spray.

Additionally, during their march, the protesters stopped at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, throwing stones at the building’s windows.

A large police presence has been deployed to maintain order and prevent damage to property.

Tensions flared on Durrës Street after protesters struck a broadcast media worker in the back. Protesters tore down street signs, pulled up paving stones, and threw them at the police.

The police intervened several times using high-pressure water to disperse the young people who were throwing stones and paving stones.

It is reported that the police have also begun detaining protesters. Media report that students from other districts have also boycotted classes. /k.s/ /a.g/p.s./

The guidelines set out how teachers and students can use AI tools, including platforms such as ChatGPT and Gemini, as well as information-verification tools, with the aim of using the technology to strengthen rather than replace human skills.

Teachers may use AI to prepare learning materials and create exercises, questions, quizzes and tests, as well as to develop materials tailored to students at different levels.

Its use can extend across a broad range of subjects, from Albanian and foreign languages to mathematics, arts and physical education. AI can also be used to translate texts, provide language corrections and assist with lesson planning.

The guidelines also envisage the use of AI in formative assessment. Teachers can use it to help develop assessment criteria and rubrics, prepare questions and quizzes, and generate feedback aimed at helping students improve.

Final decisions, however, rest with the teacher, who must verify AI-generated content and ensure that assessments are accurate and genuinely reflect a student’s progress, the guidelines say.

Students are likewise encouraged to use AI responsibly for research, project work and developing creativity.

The guidelines highlight risks associated with the technology, including misinformation, privacy breaches, digital dependency and the unethical use of AI-generated content.

Despite the opportunities AI offers in teaching and learning, its use also presents limitations and challenges that teachers, students, school administrators and other participants in the education process must understand and take into account, the document says.

“AI is a valuable support tool, but it is not infallible, does not always understand the specific context of the classroom and cannot replace the professional judgment of the teacher,” the guidelines say.

The document places particular emphasis on preventing plagiarism. Students may use AI to understand a concept, seek suggestions or improve their work, but AI-generated responses should not be copied directly and presented as their own.

Teachers are therefore encouraged to ask students to explain how they worked and how they arrived at their final product, placing emphasis on critical thinking, creativity and academic integrity.

The guidelines aim to establish a controlled and responsible approach to AI in pre-university education, ensuring that the technology serves the learning process and helps develop students’ skills rather than replacing them.

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Bringing together over 100 participants from six regional and neighboring countries, the conference showcased 95 research papers. Thought-provoking sessions spanned the arts, cultural heritage, and education, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence is transforming scientific and artistic research.

The conference aimed to promote scientific and artistic research, strengthen inter-institutional and international cooperation and foster interdisciplinary dialogue on contemporary challenges and developments in the arts.

During the conference, there was highlighted the need for greater interaction between tradition and innovation, expanding the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in creative and research processes, strengthening research on cultural heritage and further developing academic cooperation at regional and international levels.

The conference demonstrated that art, education and research are deeply interconnected, further solidifying the University of Arts as a premier hub for academic and creative exchange in Albania and beyond.

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Speaking at a meeting with the party’s Education Department attended by university lecturers, teachers and union representatives on Teacher’s Day, Berisha expressed appreciation for the role of educators, calling teachers “true missionaries of the nation” whose work is crucial for the country’s future.

Berisha argued that the education system has significantly deteriorated in recent years, referring to what he described as an “extraordinary crisis” and a decline more severe than infrastructure problems in the country.

He also criticised policies affecting higher education, including the suspension of doctoral programmes at universities, which he said had harmed academic development and scientific research.

Referring to results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Berisha said Albania had seen a significant drop in international rankings, calling it an alarming indicator of the state of education and a signal for deep reforms.

Berisha said rebuilding the country should begin with restoring the role and status of teachers, including improving their financial and professional conditions.

He also called on intellectuals, students and academics to play a more active role in public life, urging civic mobilisation and peaceful protest to push for political change, with students and young people at the forefront.

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At the end-of-year conference with journalists, held at the Premier’s Office, Rama emphasized that the data speak of a significant increase of attendance of vocational education schools, as well as a high level of employment of young people who attend it.

“Meanwhile, there are also very positive data in another field that is directly related to the economy, which is vocational education. It occupies nearly 20% of upper secondary, pre-university education, marking a new positive result,” the prime minister said.

He emphasized that the most important element remains the employment of students who attend vocational education.

“It is very important to emphasize that the employment of vocational education students is very high. In 2024, because the data for 2025 will be released later, we had a 63% percent of employed students completing vocational education schools”, said Rama. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./

Interior Minister said that the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign underscores a simple truth: violence cannot be tackled by institutions alone.

“Online abuse is not a ‘joke’. It is a phenomenon that damages lives and must be treated and punished as such,” she said, adding that authorities are strengthening legal protections in the new Penal Code to address online bullying, stalking and psychological violence.

However, Kociu stressed that legislation alone is not enough without a broader cultural shift.

“Digital violence is fueled by the language we use and what we tolerate online. This is not a battle the state can win by itself or simply through increased online policing,” she said.

“If we truly want to fight it seriously, it is not enough to increase criminal prosecutions or improve laws. We must change culture, language and behavior,” Kociu added.

She said the Interior Ministry, in cooperation with the Education Ministry, has designed awareness and sensitization programmes in schools, including initiatives on online safety and helping young people understand which online actions may constitute criminal offences.

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Regarding the 2026 budget, Kumbaro reiterated that it is the highest nominal budget ever for education.

Kumbaro noted that there will also be an increase in funds for scientific research, the internationalization of higher education, as well as new infrastructure for university spaces, no less important are the budget items for the inclusion and social support of students.

Kumbaro said that, “The 2026 draft budget for the Ministry of Education is planned at 64 billion and 865 million lekë, with an addition of 2 billion and 845 million lekë to the initial budget of 2025 or an increase of 4.6% more than the initial budget of 2025. This is the highest historical nominal budget for education. But, it is important to say that the Education Sector is also supported by other actors, significantly increasing real financing. In total, these funds injected together with the budget of the Ministry of Education for 2026 reach a value of about 90 billion lekë, increasing the sector’s share to: 10.1% of public spending,” said Kumbaro.

Regarding the salary increase, Kumbaro said that, “Even in 2026, the salary increase for all employees will continue”.

Kumbaro informed that for about 715 employees, specialists of the public administration of the Ministry of Education and its affiliated institutions, there will be an increase of 5 thousand lekë/month or 60 thousand lekë per year.

“While teachers, even after the large increase last year, will again benefit in 2026 an additional 36 thousand lekë per year, or 3 thousand lekë more each month”, underlined Kumbaro.

Kumbaro stated that, “If we make a comparison with the countries of the region, the share of the education budget in relation to public spending in Albania is almost at the same levels, and even in some cases higher than the regional average. As I said, Albania spends 10.13% of public spending on education, when these figures are 9.6% in Serbia, 9.4% in Bosnia and Herzegovina or 9.1% in Montenegro”.

Minister Kumbaro said that, ‘The budget covers transportation for about 38 thousand students who live over 2 km away from school and for about 12 thousand teachers who work at a distance of over 5 km to 50 km from their residence, at a cost of 12.5 million euros.’

“Another important direction is covering the costs of free textbooks for about 236 thousand students from the first to the ninth grade as well as for about 12 thousand students from social classes in need in upper secondary education, with a budget of 1 billion lekë,” explained Minister Kumbaro during the budget presentation. /k.s/a.f/p.s./

Speaking at the Conference of Chairpersons in parliament, Malaj said planned spending for next year would reach more than 886.7 billion leks, reflecting both investment growth and fiscal responsibility.

Public investment is set at 6.5% of gross domestic product (GDP), with a focus on strategic projects under the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans designed to turn Albania into a regional development hub.

Education remains a top priority, with 89.8 billion leks allocated, equal to 3.2% of GDP and up 4.3 billion leks from 2025. The budget provides for free textbooks for pupils in grades one through nine, additional support for disadvantaged students, scholarships for children with special needs, and free transport for tens of thousands of pupils and teachers.

Healthcare spending is projected at 81.2 billion leks, or 2.9% of GDP, an increase of 4.9 billion leks year-on-year. The plan includes reimbursements for around 400,000 patients, higher funding for oncology medicines, and hospital and clinic upgrades. The national vaccination programme will cover 180,000 children and 280,000 adults.

Social protection will be financed with about 257.3 billion leks, or 9.2% of GDP, up 11.6 billion from 2025. Funds will cover welfare payments, disability and unemployment benefits, baby bonuses and compensation for former political prisoners.

Agriculture will receive 16.3 billion leks in support through subsidies, sovereign guarantees, soft loans and VAT refunds, benefiting around 15,000 farmers directly and 30,000 through the diesel subsidy scheme.

Defence spending will represent 2.12% of GDP in 2026, in line with Albania’s NATO pledge to reach 3.5% by 2035, marking an annual increase of 10.2 billion leks. Infrastructure and energy spending, equal to 2.8% of GDP, will fund major road, rail, water and port projects, including the new Durres port in Porto Romano.

Justice and public order will receive 26.2 billion leks, or 2.1% of GDP, to improve prison facilities and strengthen the justice system.

Local government funding will rise 9% to 97.7 billion leks, which Malaj said demonstrated that decentralisation in Albania “is a reality, not just rhetoric”. Unconditional transfers to municipalities will rise by an average of 6.5%, and to regions by 4.1%, to support more effective project implementation and stronger local governance.

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