Albania’s Education Budget Reaches Record Levels in 2026 with Higher Salaries and Modern Infrastructure

Today, Mirela Kumbaro, the Minister of Education, presented the 2026 draft budget to the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science, and Sports. The budget allocates substantial increases in funding for teachers, school infrastructure, digitalization, and the integration of technology into the learning process.
In 2026, Albania will have the highest nominal education budget, with 64.8 billion ALL allocated to the Ministry of Education, and around 90 billion ALL total when including additional funding from other sources. This represents a 4.6% increase compared to the 2025 budget.
A significant amount of funding is allocated to higher education and scientific research. The state budget allocates 146 million euros, and universities generate an additional 39 million euros, for a total of 185 million euros. The minister emphasized that the priorities remain internationalizing and European integrating universities, opening joint programs with dual degrees, improving academic quality, strengthening integrity and transparency, supporting students with scholarships and lower fees, and investing in the digitization of higher education institutions.
A total of 18.3 million euros in investments are planned for university infrastructure in 2026. These funds will support the reconstruction of the Civil Engineering Faculty building, the renovation of the Geology and Mining Faculty building, and the construction of the Geology Museum. They will also support new projects at “Aleksandër Moisiu” University in Durrës, the University of Sports, and “Aleksandër Xhuvani” University in Elbasan. Additionally, a fund of 3.5 million euros will finance 40 scientific research infrastructure projects.
Salary increases in the education sector will continue through 2026. Teachers will receive an additional 36,000 ALL per year. The personnel budget includes special categories such as assistant teachers for children with disabilities, psychologists, safety officers, and quality and career coordinators. It also includes payments for after-school and school sports programs. Additionally, approximately 10,600 service workers and support staff will benefit from a 10,000 ALL increase in the monthly minimum wage. The 715 Ministry of Education administration employees will receive a monthly raise of 5,000 ALL.
The draft budget provides free transportation for 38,000 students and 12,000 teachers who travel long distances, at a cost of €12.5 million. School textbooks will be free for 236,000 pupils in the nine-year education system and around 12,000 upper-secondary students in need, thanks to a 1 billion ALL fund.
Minister Kumbaro described the 2026 budget as a commitment to ensuring equal opportunities and quality education. He stressed that investments in teachers, laboratories, and infrastructure aim to modernize the education system and align it with European standards.