300 schools without psycho-social services / 93,000 students lack support, many schools have no psychologists

More than 300 schools in Albania do not offer psycho-social services, affecting around 93,000 students, the Supreme State Audit (KLSH) concludes.

Although psychological services have been implemented in schools since 2004, even after more than two decades, the expanded psycho-social service does not fully cover all educational institutions, leaving students unequally supported.

An audit by the Supreme State Audit of the pre-university education system during 2020–2024 shows that, although the number of psycho-social staff has increased to 824, comprehensive psycho-social support is still not guaranteed for students. This means children cannot learn in a safer and more supportive environment, and children with disabilities do not receive services as required by law.

“Out of 1,356 schools in the country, about a quarter, or 334 schools, have no social workers or psychologists, affecting approximately 92,991 students who have not been provided with necessary psycho-social support.

Counseling rooms and supporting materials are missing, and when they exist, in most cases they are not dedicated to specialists of this service. Despite steps taken over the years to increase staff numbers, the service still does not fulfill its function effectively,” SSA notes.

The lack of coverage is particularly evident in southern Albania and in peripheral areas, where monitoring found that 8 schools under the Finiq-Dropull education office lack psycho-social services. The situation is even more difficult in the Selenicë and Tepelenë–Memaliaj education offices, where 32 schools share only one staff member for each service.

“Nationally, on average, one psycho-social staff member covers 1.7 schools. At the Regional Education Directorate level, the situation is more problematic in Fier and Korçë, where one staff member covers 2.6 schools in Fier and 2 schools in Korçë.

The situation is better in the Durrës and Lezhë Regional Education Directorates. Typically, a psychologist or social worker covers several schools, especially in rural areas where the number of students is smaller and schools are far apart,” SSA adds.

Currently, the psycho-social service is reactive rather than preventive, according to the SSA report, and does not ensure effective coverage in all schools nationwide.

“KORÇA BOOM”