Higher education in Albania is currently experiencing a significant decline in student enrollment, with many university programs at risk of closure. Experts attribute this trend to a variety of factors, including mass emigration of young people and a general lack of confidence in the quality of education and life within the country.
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| In one of the protests of Albanian students in Tirana against the reform, June 2, 2014 |
A Sharp Decline in Student Numbers
Education expert Ndriçim Mehmeti, speaking on Euronews Albania’s expressed deep concern over the worsening situation, stating, "It has never been this bad." He highlighted the alarming rate at which young Albanians are leaving the country for studies abroad, adding that there are no records indicating whether any of those who left in recent years have returned.
"We've discussed this issue several times. We are now 10,000 fewer students than in 2016. The negative trend started around 2016-2018, when 10,000 to 11,000 young people wanted to leave the country. That's equivalent to about 300 classes of 30 students each. In total, we have lost the equivalent of 500 schools with around 400-500 students each," Mehmeti explained.
This exodus has contributed to a drastic decline in the number of students in Albanian universities. Mehmeti stressed that the root causes include a lack of trust in the education system and in the future of life in Albania. "People have lost hope for several reasons: the quality of education, the quality of life, and the general loss of hope for the future," he said.
University Quotas Left Unfilled
In the same discussion, university professor Klodeta Dibra shed light on the increasingly empty classrooms at public universities, revealing that around 40% of available student slots remain unfilled. The continuous decline in student enrollment, she said, has become a worrying trend for higher education in the country.
Dibra emphasized that beyond the empty seats, the most painful aspect of the situation is the loss of some of the brightest high school graduates, which has led to a drop in the overall quality of students entering universities. "The situation in higher education is a cause-and-effect cycle. This decline began a long time ago," Dibra noted. She pointed out that the average grade of incoming students has dropped, with the highest average now being 8.2, which signals a significant drop in academic standards compared to previous years.
A System in Crisis
Both Mehmeti and Dibra agree that the current state of higher education in Albania is the result of long-term neglect and a failure to address critical issues in the education system. According to Dibra, the crisis has been years in the making. "This decline didn't happen overnight; it’s the result of 15-20 years of mismanagement. Now, we are reaping what we have sown," she remarked.
The experts also expressed concern about the future of the education system, questioning whether the situation could still be turned around. "We don't know how to regain control and change this situation," Dibra stated, noting that without immediate and systemic reforms, the problem will only worsen in the coming years.
Conclusion
The crisis in Albania's higher education system highlights the urgent need for reforms and investments to restore faith in the country’s educational institutions and stop the brain drain of talented young people. As university classrooms continue to empty, Albania faces not only the risk of closing educational programs but also the broader challenge of ensuring a qualified and educated workforce for the future.