Albania faces a pressing need to improve funding for its education sector and ensure better resource distribution, according to a recent analysis by UNESCO. The report highlights significant weaknesses in sector management and declining investment, which has dropped relative to GDP and overall budget expenditures over the past decade.
Some young people from the "Qemal Stafa" school in Tirana who are sitting on chairs in a classroom |
“Enhancing resources for education is critical to ensuring Albania can meet current and future challenges and provide quality education for all children to support the nation’s economic demands,” states the report.
Declining Education Spending in a Growing Economy
In 2022, government revenues made up 28% of GDP, with overall budget expenditures amounting to 32% of GDP. A significant portion of this spending focuses on social protection and capital investments, with the latter consuming 22% of the budget. However, education expenditures have not kept pace, totaling just 59.1 billion ALL in 2021, or 3.1% of GDP—markedly lower than in other Balkan countries.
The report also reveals that teacher salaries are among the lowest in the region. Comparable to those of support staff, teacher salaries lag behind other professionals and undermine the sector’s ability to attract and retain qualified educators.
Resource Mismanagement and Demographic Challenges
Albania’s declining student population has led to increased per-student costs, but resource allocation has not adjusted accordingly. Operating a preschool classroom costs approximately 1.3 million ALL annually, while a secondary school classroom costs up to 3.1 million ALL. Despite this, the decrease in student numbers has not resulted in proportional reductions in expenditures, leading to inefficiencies.
Structural Challenges Post-Decentralization
The decentralization process initiated in 2015 divided the responsibilities for school management between the Ministry of Education and Sports (MASH) and local governments. While MASH oversees teachers and school supervision, local governments manage infrastructure and daily operations. However, this division has been ineffective, further exacerbating inefficiencies in the sector.
UNESCO’s findings underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to improve funding levels, optimize resource allocation, and address structural inefficiencies in Albania’s education system. Without immediate reforms, the sector risks failing to meet the demands of students, educators, and the country’s growing economy.