The French Lyceum in Korça reopens, France will fund part of the costs for the first five years

The visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Albania at the end of 2023 has materialized in a draft law for the reopening of the French Lyceum in Korça.

The Ministry of Education has drafted a bill for the creation of a public institution in southeastern Albania where, upon completing secondary education, students will receive two diplomas: an Albanian one and a French one.

The cost per student at the French Lyceum of Korça is around five times higher than in a standard public high school, due to the bilingual model, the international teaching staff and the scientific laboratories. The document currently under public consultation specifies that the school’s director will be proposed by the French Ministry of National Education, while the deputy director will be appointed by Albania.

The draft law foresees that during the first five years of operation, the French side will cover the costs related to the position of the lyceum’s director, who is expected to be a leader with experience in the French education system, with a salary estimated at around 10,000 euros per month.

The cost of this position is estimated at about 115,000 euros per year, or around 594,000 euros over five years.

According to the explanatory report of the draft law, the project also requires an initial investment for equipment and furnishing of the institution, estimated at around 2 million euros. In the budget of the ministry responsible for education for the period 2026–2028, 100 million lekë (about 1 million euros) have been planned. Funds for human resources for the Albanian side have also been included in the 2026–2028 budget, excluding the costs of the cafeteria and dormitory, which will be covered by the Municipality of Korça.

The lyceum is expected to enjoy financial autonomy and conduct the teaching process in Albanian, French and English. The main criterion for student admission will be knowledge of the French language. Applications for Albanian students will be made through e-Albania, while foreign students will apply physically at the lyceum’s address.

An important role in the bilateral public institution is also planned for the Lyceum’s Administrative Council, which will include the Minister of Education and the French Ambassador to Albania.

“KORÇA BOOM”