New educational infrastructures will be added to the capital, featuring new complex models with dignified conditions for students, teachers, and educators.
In Administrative Unit 14, in Tirana, the foundations are being laid for the construction of a new school, which will operate alongside a new kindergarten and nursery, with a capacity of 900 students and 250 children in the preschool cycle. This is a government investment in response to the needs of the Astir community.
Prime Minister Edi Rama visited the construction site today, where work is underway for this complex, accompanied by the Minister of Education and Sports, Ogerta Manastirliu, and the delegated Mayor of the Municipality, Anuela Ristani.
“Welcome to Astir, Mr. Prime Minister. Today’s event is a historic achievement for the neighborhood because, as far back as 10 years ago, the main concern was that the former communes never had educational buildings planned. Finally, we now have the opportunity to lay the foundation for the first school in the 14th neighborhood of the Astir area for all the residents. There was no facility in this area; this entire neighborhood is a new one, as you know. It was part of the commune’s planning, and the commune planned buildings and roads, but no public service facilities, such as a healthcare center, kindergarten, or nursery.
The school we see today is designed according to the modules we have for new schools, where we maximize space to have as many classrooms and capacity as possible. It is planned for 900 students in the 9-year education cycle. On the other side of the road, there will be a kindergarten and nursery for more than 250 children, with 2 nursery classrooms and 4 kindergarten classrooms,” explained Mayor Ristani.
She also added, “We also have the plans for two more schools that will continue further in Yzberisht, for a secondary school and a 9-year school with the same capacities. The secondary school will serve 600 students, while the 9-year school will serve 900 students, and similarly, the nursery and kindergarten will be part of the 9-year school to serve the Yzberisht area.”
The Minister of Education and Sports, Ogerta Manastirliu, stated that the fact that both the preschool cycle and the 9-year school cycle can be completed in the same location.
“There will be 900 students, mainly for the entire 9-year education cycle, and we will also have two preschool classes. This is important because all those students or young children who need to go to kindergarten, and in cases of difficulty, will be able to attend the preschool cycle and then integrate directly here. We will also have a special class for students with disabilities. We are now integrating this into all schools as a set standard, with support teachers available. As for the teaching staff, thanks to the reduction of schools operating in two shifts, the Municipality of Tirana has done a great job in reducing the number of such schools by 57%. Only 25 schools remain with two shifts. With the increase in capacities and new schools, 5 of which are under construction, we are expanding the capacity, and I believe we will eliminate this in the next 4 years,” she expressed, emphasizing that this is a promise fulfilled for the Astir community.
“This is a promise kept, and the entire Astir community is very satisfied with the realization of this investment. In addition, we will have both a 9-year school and a high school in Kashar. This will significantly ease the pressure, especially on schools in Administrative Unit 5, which are currently attended by children from these areas. We also have the ‘Kol Jakova’ school in Unit 11. So, what we’re achieving is a balanced distribution of educational infrastructure across the entire network,” said Minister Manastirliu.
For his part, Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that new schools and kindergartens will be built throughout Tirana, wherever new residential developments and population growth create the need.
“A few days ago, when I was here with Ogerta, this was exactly the request being made, and I told you then that we would start soon. Now I can confirm that we will also be looking at other areas, not just here, but throughout Tirana, where due to new population inflows and construction, kindergartens and nurseries are needed. We need to move forward with what we discussed—a new plan for the placement of educational facilities in Tirana, which would involve expropriations or partnerships where, in exchange for a construction permit, developers allocate space for a school. As for nurseries, we should continue the approach you’ve already used—utilizing internal spaces in buildings—and I believe we can do something very nice with that model,” said the Prime Minister.
The educational projects will continue with the construction of two more schools, one 9-year school and one high school, in the areas of Yzberisht and Kashar.
