Xhixho: Albanian teachers are not only the lowest paid in Europe, but also the most deceived

Statement by the Deputy President of the Freedom Party, Erisa Xhixho

As if it were not enough that Albanian teachers are the lowest paid in the region and in Europe, today they are also the most deceived.

The decision on the so-called historic salary increase for pre-university education teachers, as described by the Prime Minister in June 2024, turned out to be not only a deception, but resulted in 11,172 Albanian teachers facing salary cuts.

Council of Ministers Decision (VKM) no. 425, dated 26.06.2024, penalized them by reducing their salaries by 2,000 to 6,000 new lek. These teachers have had their acquired rights violated and feel discriminated against in salary treatment for the same work compared to their colleagues while exercising the profession. This VKM, and in particular Annex no. 4, which defines the qualification-level bonus, infringes several workers’ rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Albania, the Labor Code, and the Collective Agreement.

Specifically:

For 1,515 primary education teachers, the group salary was reduced from 14,000 lek to 10,000 lek.

For 4,646 teachers with a professional master’s degree, the group salary was reduced from 14,000 lek to 12,000 lek.

For 240 teachers with a “Master of Science” or “Professional Master” degree, the group salary was reduced from 14,000 lek to 10,000 lek.

For 360 teachers in primary education, lower secondary education, and upper secondary education with a pedagogical high school diploma, the group salary was reduced from 14,000 lek to 8,000 lek.

For 4,411 preschool education teachers, the group salary was reduced from 14,000 lek to 10,000 lek. This also includes preparatory class teachers in lower secondary education, whose group salary was reduced from 14,000 to 10,000 lek.

The affected teachers had been treated equally and in accordance with the law for years, while this unilateral change in treatment worsens their working conditions and violates legally acquired salaries. Any intervention that brings negative consequences to workers’ rights constitutes discrimination and creates legal insecurity in the education system.

At a time when the country needs teachers more than ever, due to a severe shortage of teaching staff in schools, for a large portion of them salaries not only did not increase, but were reduced—turning promises into deception and undermining teachers’ trust in state institutions.

The situation becomes even more alarming in a context where education remains underfunded, with less than 2.29% of GDP allocated to it. Instead of investing in education and in the people who sustain the system, the government makes decisions that actually reduce incomes and damage teachers’ motivation.

The consequences of this failed policy are being directly reflected in the massive depopulation of the country. This year alone, pre-university education has 17,000 fewer students, while over the past five years more than 115,000 students have been lost. The emptying of schools is frightening and is the clearest reflection of the failure of this government’s educational, social, and economic policies.

Schools are closing, classrooms are emptying, and teachers are being forced to leave the system or the country, while the government continues to ignore reality and take no serious measures to stop this human hemorrhage.

Reflecting the concerns of hundreds of teachers and the United Teachers’ Union, I have addressed Parliament with a request for a question-and-answer session with the Minister of Education. In support of their just demands, unions and education workers are calling for the immediate review of this decision and the opening of a serious institutional dialogue that guarantees equal treatment, respect for acquired rights, and dignity for teachers.

The first step toward this is an open confrontation with the Minister of Education, who must answer the following questions:

How does the Ministry of Education explain the fact that, after promises of salary increases, more than 11,000 teachers today are paid less, while education continues to be underfunded and schools are emptying year after year?

What measures will the Ministry of Education take to correct this discriminatory salary decision affecting 11,172 teaching employees, to guarantee equal treatment and respect for teachers’ acquired rights?

Today more than ever, we need teachers. At the current pace, the collapse of the education system is not far away. And this collapse cannot be avoided if we continue to keep teachers underpaid and demotivated. Education is a national emergency today, and the government must take responsibility.

“KORÇA BOOM”