Some 500 students are protesting in Tirana today due to their claims that the government has not kept any of the promises it made to them during the 2018/2019 student protests
Students boycotted lessons and congregated in front of University and began chanting against the government’s failure to implement the University Pact. They are also calling for others to join the protests and to demand that Edi Rama and the government keep their word.
On January 13, the Movement for University, on its Facebook page, announced the return of student protests.
“One year after the great student protest, nothing has changed. The students have not fallen asleep!
Students are coming! ”
At the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019, large-scale student protests took place in Tirana and other cities as students protested against high tuition rates and a poor quality of education.
They put forward eight non-negotiable demands including providing student cards, an increase in the education budget, improvement of dorm and university facilities, reduction in fees, support for students, and representation of students on the University senate.
Rama reshuffled his cabinet but a year later, has failed to implement any of the requests.
Students also protested due to a number of cases of alleged plagiarism attributed to politicians and professors at public universities. Those accused of plagiarising their PHDs and dissertations include Ervin Demo (ex-Deputy Minister of Education), PS MP and professor Blerina Gjylameti, Minister of Health Ogerta Manastirliu, PS MP Mimi Kodheli, Professor Ditjona Kule, Rector of the University of Durres Kseanela Sotirofski, and PS MP Taulant Balla.
