Changes to teaching workloads and school structures

Changes to teaching workloads and school structures, particularly for schools in rural areas.

Ministry of Education approves:

Instruction No. 16, dated August 27, 2026, introducing amendments and additions to Instruction No. 14, dated July 10, 2023, which regulates the number of students per class and the teaching workload of educational staff in pre-university education institutions.

The new document brings significant changes to the organization of schools, the determination of teaching workloads, and the functioning of managerial and coordinating roles.

Lower threshold for appointing school principals

One of the main changes concerns the reduction of the minimum number of students required for the appointment of a school principal. Previously, a school had to have more than 80 students; this threshold has now been lowered to more than 60 students.

According to the new instruction:

• In schools with 61 to 200 students, the principal will teach 6 hours per week.

• In schools with 201 to 600 students, the principal will teach 4 hours per week.

This change aims to strengthen the administration and management of educational institutions, particularly smaller schools in rural areas that were at risk of closure or consolidation.

Reorganization of the formation of combined classes

The instruction also revises the ranges for the formation of combined classes, establishing new organizational criteria:

• Classes with 21–30 students will be organized into three classes.

• For the first time, the 31–50 student range is defined separately and will be organized into four classes.

The changes aim to ensure a more balanced distribution of students and improve the teaching process.

Changes to subject teaching workloads

The regulatory act also introduces adjustments for certain profiles and specific subjects.

For Physical Education and Sports, the teacher’s weekly workload is set at 21 teaching hours.

Meanwhile, visual arts and music education teachers are included in separate categories for the calculation of teaching workloads.

Another welcome change is the possibility for school administrators with a primary education profile to fulfill their weekly workload with hours provided for under Chapter V of the instruction.

New rules for arts and sports education

In the ballet program, professional subjects are now more clearly defined, including:

• Repertoire

• Boys’ Technique

• Modern Ballet

• Folk Dance

• Classical Duet, etc.

Meanwhile, in the Football specialization, Practical Professional Training classes will be conducted in separate groups for outfield players and goalkeepers. The goalkeeper group must consist of at least six students of the same level.

Reduced workload for coordinators and the “After School” program

Another important change concerns the reduction of teaching workloads for coordinating roles in schools.

According to the instruction:

• The Head of the Subject Team will receive a reduction of 2 hours from the weekly workload.

• The Quality Assurance Coordinator will have a workload of 6–10 hours per week.

• The Career Counseling Coordinator will have a workload of 8–12 hours per week.

Benefits are also provided for school administrators responsible for managing the “After School” program.

The principal or deputy principal responsible for organizing the program will receive:

• a reduction of 2 hours if the school has up to four groups or clubs;

• a reduction of 4 hours if more than four groups or clubs are operating.

Entry into force

Instruction No. 16 enters into force immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette, introducing new changes to the organization of the pre-university education system and the workload of educational staff across the country.

By Fiqiri Çifliku

“KORÇA BOOM”