Tirana schools to introduce full-day schedule and lunch for pupils starting next year
Starting next year, all public primary and lower secondary schools in Tirana will provide lunch for students, enabling them to stay in school until 4:00 PM. The initiative aims to improve student well-being, support working parents, and enhance educational outcomes by extending the school day.
Why is this important: Currently, public schools in Tirana operate on a short schedule, with lower primary classes ending by 11:30 AM and upper primary classes (grades 6-9) finishing by 1:00 PM. This limited schedule presents significant challenges for parents who lack flexible work hours or access to childcare.
Context: The initiative is being spearheaded by Tirana’s municipal government in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and has the full support of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Officials have emphasized that extending the school schedule benefits not only students but also economically disadvantaged families who will have access to additional services without added costs.
As part of broader efforts to improve educational infrastructure, the Prime Minister, Tirana’s mayor, and the education minister recently inaugurated the reconstruction of two student dormitories at the city’s university campus. The project, funded by Tirana Municipality and KfW (the German development bank), aims to provide energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable facilities. The same approach will be applied to other buildings in the area.
What else: The announcement also served as a platform for Prime Minister Rama to publicly reaffirm his support for Tirana’s mayor, following political speculation and opposition claims of tension between the two leaders. Critics had alleged that an ongoing investigation by SPAK (Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime) into the mayor’s family had strained their relationship. Rama, however, dismissed these claims and emphasized the continued collaboration between the central government and Tirana’s municipality on major development projects.
Next steps: Parents have long advocated for extended school hours and the inclusion of lunch services. However, a key challenge for implementation will be the infrastructure of older schools, particularly those built before 2000, which may lack suitable facilities for cafeterias and meal services. That is why the Ministry of Education and local authorities will work to address infrastructure needs, particularly for schools that currently lack cafeteria facilities. In parallel, the government will continue to invest in related projects to improve school and student housing infrastructure across the city.
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