The Minister of Education and Sports, Ogerta Manastirliu, presented to the Committee on Economy and Finance, the draft law “On the Budget of 2024” for Education and Sports, which is estimated at 52 billion 223 million lekë, with an additional fund of 5 billion 49 million lekë compared to the initial budget of 2023, or an increase of 10.7%.
This includes a salary increase fund for teachers in 2024, which is expected in the amount of 4 billion ALL. The MAS budget for 2024 is projected for 56 billion 223 million ALL, or 9 billion 49 million ALL more than the initial budget of 2023.
Minister Manastirliu said that in the 2024 budget, there will be a historic increase in salaries for teachers, educators, and other school employees.
“In the 2024 budget, we will make a landmark increase in salaries for 30,000 teachers, assistant teachers, educators, and school psychologists. We are aiming for the average salary of teachers to reach 90,000 lekë,” said Minister Manastirliu.
The 2024 budget will continue to invest in schools. “About 30 school facilities will be completed and we will start a new investment program in schools for 2024-2025″, said Minister Manastirliu.
She added that the 2024 budget will also support continuing education and special training for teachers in scientific subjects, languages, and information technology programs.
The dedicated student support fund of 1.6 billion lekë will provide financial support to over 50 thousand students in higher education, via a full or partial reduction of fees, as well as the financing of excellent student scholarships and scholarships for students attending priority programs at universities.
Manastirliu emphasized that in the 2024 budget there will be an increase in support for universities and a 40% increase in the budget for scientific research and scientific research infrastructure.
With the new budget, textbooks will be provided free of charge to 231,000 students from the first to the ninth grade, as well as to 16 categories with about 18,000 students from the needy social strata attending upper secondary education. The 2024 budget will also support about 3,600 students from needy social strata in pre-university education.
100 new assistant teachers for special education will be hired in schools to support children with different abilities. The 2024 budget will also provide free transportation throughout the year for over 38,000 students and 12,000 teachers. It will ensure the creation of +216 SMART labs to improve students’ digital skills and support the didactic equipment of science labs in schools.
The 2024 budget will support school sports, expanding sports teams and involving more than 10,000 students in various sports disciplines.