Promoting Inclusive Education for All Children

UNICEF continued to support the National School of Trainers for Pre-University Education with 140 certified trainers covering almost all the country. The Korca Regional Education Directorate is cooperating with the Municipality’s Child Protection Unit in the State Social Service on managing cases of drop-outs as they establish joint plans of action in support of the MoES ‘zero-drop-out’ programme. Zero-drop-out eff orts have now been extended to six regions as part of the national effort. In Kukes and Korca, a school-based Education Management Information System (EMIS) is being piloted to provide better data on the reasons for drop-out and possible interventions.

 Three pilot regional parents’ boards attached to Regional Education Directorate offices were strengthened to promote a better culture of collaboration among education institutions and parents. Based on Albania’s National Strategy of Pre-University Education, early childhood development interventions have focused on ensuring a good start to life and school readiness for the most marginalized children. UNICEF, WB and MoES jointly supported 250 pre-primary classes for Roma children while integrated services offering pre-school education together with parenting skills and health education and check-ups have been supported in the poor northern regions as well in the Roma communities. In a joint effort with the private sector and MoES, pre-school libraries have been established in 943 pre-schools all over the country and 900 teachers have been trained in how to improve their pedagogical practices and use of child centred strategies. For children of age 0–3, crèche standards have been developed, while crèche personnel and local government staff are being trained to use these standards in nine districts.