Today Prime Minister Rama met with representatives from the University of Tirana with regards to their delayed wages. In the meeting, he stated that:
This wage delay stands as proof that the reform is challenging even for those of us at its helm.
No one will be able to hold the reform hostage, neither through theatricals, nor signatures, nor concerns, however legitimate they might be.
We must increase the unconditional grant but still base it on merit and university performance.
Our government no longer entertains the theory that it supposedly favors private universities over the public ones.
Public universities perform lower than private ones because they lack competitive spirit and have always had a guaranteed existence.
After those of the faculty, the government will no longer grant raises. Instead, the university should assign wages on a performance basis.
Fees are not determined by the government, but rather by the universities. The government determines only a maximum ceiling.
