Tirana, December 2, 2024— Ogerta Manastirliu, Minister of Education and Sports, continued her series of discussions with parent communities. The most recent meeting took place at “Kosova” school in Tirana, when the minister met with the school’s parent committee, which included representatives from classroom and school-level councils.
The purpose of these seminars is to raise awareness about the risks and effects of social media platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat for children and young people.
During the conversation, the minister addressed concerns about the impact of technology on children’s education and measures to safeguard their safety.
“We have embarked on a communications tour of all our schools to address concerns about children’s safety, both in and out of school. One of the most pressing concerns for parents is the harmful impact of platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat on children’s behavior, especially among the younger demographic. As access to digital technology increases, families, schools, and communities must work together to increase vigilance in all areas where children spend time, learn, and play.”
The minister outlined the specific actions taken by the ministry:
“We have created a protective network that includes families, parents, teachers, psychologists, and school safety police. During the 2023-2024 school year, these systems helped to report and prevent 2,030 incidents of violence and cyberbullying. To further strengthen this network, we are now analyzing the protocol package and working to increase the number of social workers, psychologists, and school safety officers in light of new commitments and the budget plan. This will ensure optimal effectiveness through collaboration between teachers, safety officers, and school psychologists. In addition, we will provide specific training to parents on digital information and these critical school roles.”
Minister Manastirliu also emphasized the importance of technology in improving communication between parents and schools.
“Platforms such as e-Albania and the SMIP system are practical examples of how technology can keep parents informed about their children’s academic performance, behavior, and trends. Our goal is to make this system more participatory, allowing for real-time information sharing between parents, teachers, and security officials. This will help monitor academic performance and resolve any issues that may arise.”
With regard to civic and digital education, the minister stressed the importance of the new curriculum framework.
“The Ministry of Education and Sports has finalized and accepted the new framework, which represents the modernization of the curriculum. One of its important cornerstones is the reform of civic education textbooks to include legal, media, and digital education. These components are crucial, starting with the textbooks and continuing with teaching methods such as classroom activities, interactive sessions, and independent group projects on civic education issues.”
Addressing the dangers that social media poses to young people, the minister called for an in-depth debate on control measures and access restrictions:
“We need to take community-wide action to protect our children from the harmful effects of social media. Should we shut down these platforms or impose age restrictions? This is a discourse we need to have together in order to make parents aware of the need to set a good example and communicate openly with their children.”
The minister also promised continued investment in infrastructure and educational programs:
“We will continue to invest in initiatives such as ‘arts and crafts,’ community center schools, and pilot after-school programs starting next year. To keep young people engaged in school and social life, we will also pilot a summer school program.
She emphasized relationships with other institutions to protect children and youth from Internet threats:
“We have made tremendous progress in dealing with inappropriate online content through the tools established by the Cyber Protection Authority (ACESK). This agency has successfully reported and shut down objectionable sites or profiles in response to user concerns. In addition, the ALI 111 and 116 helplines, funded by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, have been established to deal with violence, bullying, and other forms of abuse. These lines have played a crucial role in reporting and preventing nearly 7,000 cases of online bullying to date.
Finally, Minister Manastirliu emphasized the need for parents, teachers, and institutions to work together to ensure the safety of children.