Graduates number falling in Albania, vocational training is increasing at fast

 The Institute of Statistics of Albania (known locally as 'INSTAT') has published this Friday the report regarding the number of graduate students for the school year 2019-2020.

According to the data, during this period 98,168 pupils and students managed to qualify in Albania, or 5.5% less than last year.

9-year education

It turns out that 33,618 students graduated from the 9-year education system, of which 52.3% were boys and 47.7% girls.

In the pre-university system, there is a significant decrease in the number of graduate students. Specifically, as INSTAT points out, during the 2018-19 school year, 31,662 students graduated, marking a decrease of 6.9%, compared to the previous year.

Vocational training

Vocational education has experienced an increase in students' interest and this is evidenced by the data reported by the Institute of Statistics. Specifically, 4,862 students graduated in vocational education, or in other words an increase of 27.7% compared to the 2018-19 school year.

University education

The number of graduate students in the university system has decreased significantly. According to INSTAT, during the academic year 2019-20, 32,889 students graduated, marking a decrease of 5.7% compared to 2018-19.

"In all higher education programs, in this academic year, 21,481 female students graduated, or 65.3% of the total number of students graduating in higher education. "Graduate students in Bachelor programs make up 53.5% of the total graduate students, followed by Master programs with 42.4%", it is stated in the INSTAT report.

Entela Binjaku while live on Euronews Albania

Regarding this non-positive situation, Euronews Albania talked to sociologist Entela Binjaku, who explained the reasons that have influenced the reduction of graduates at all levels of education.

She said that these data should serve as an alarm bell for state institutions, but also for Albanian society.

"This decline does not make us happy at all, but in contrast, we have to worry. The fact that we have less-educated people at all levels, I think should really concern us," said the sociologist.

Binjaku stated that Albanian boys no longer see education as primary, but their wish is to leave the country.

"Albanian boys do not think to be educated, but to emigrate. Their first thought is how to leave, while girls are the ones who emigrate less and ultimately and for the sake of the tradition of Albanian families, that the man is the one who brings money home and this falls more on the shoulders of 'Male,' she said.