Training’s and debate with representative of the pilot schools_ May 2016
“Out of school children”, an initiative of MoES, with the support of UNICEF is implemented by the Observatory for Children’s Rights. This initiative started in 2013 and was followed by the Observatory for Children’s Rights from 2014 onward, with the aim of identifying and registering in school all children of compulsory education age as well as preventing school leave by children who are at risk of dropping out. This initiative aims to establish adequate mechanisms that facilitate the attendance of school from every child of compulsory school age till 9 grade.
In the framework of the initiative, on 13, 14, 27 and 28 May 2016 were held training’s (2 day training’s) with 51 representative of the pilot schools (directors, teachers and psychologists), with the aim of the awareness and support of each educational institution and every community member in obtaining registration of all children of school age in school attendance, regular attendance, inclusion and the end of compulsory education.
Some of the debate results during the training are listed as follows:
- Inform director, teaching staff and members of communities on their roles and responsibilities in identifying cases of children who are not yet enrolled in school, the children who do not attend regularly teaching and prevention school dropout risk cases.
- Provide pedagogical strategies and emotional support for students who tend to dropout.
- Introduce a mechanism to identify children who tend to drop out of school and finding effective ways of their social involvement in school life and activities.
- Strengthening the family-school-community relations and the functioning of the bodies set up within the school.
Training and the debate for the issue of out of school children was facilitated by Mrs. Aurela Zisi, IZHA. During the training was explained the training module developed in the framework of the initiative “Providing attendance and completion of basic education for every child.”
Roundtables and promoting debate and dialogue in the framework of the identification of out of school children
Observatory for Children’s Rights (Observatory) during the period February- April 2016 organized round tables by promoting debate and dialogue with special groups of participants to discuss the process of out of school children identification. Round tables were realized in the framework of the initiative implementation “Out of school children”, with the special attention of the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) and in partnership with UNICEF Albania.
About the initiative
“Out of school children” initiative is realized with the special attention of MoES, in partnership with UNICEF Albania and is being implemented by Observatory. This initiative has started since 2013 with the aim of identifying and registration of all children at compulsory age also preventing drop out of school phenomena of children at risk of drop out. The initiative aims establishment of appropriate mechanisms that every children at compulsory age to follow the school.
Implementation of 3 Ministerial Common Order (3MO) “For identification and registration in school of all children at compulsory age” is being piloted in Durres Municipality. In collaboration with the working group, composed by representatives of Ministry and other institutions, are selected 10 9- year public schools of Durres Municipality (according the new administrative reform). Criteria of selection were based on Performance Card of each school. In 10 pilot schools of Durres, the interventions for monitoring the implementation of 3 Ministerial Common Order are intensified.
The purpose of meetings and debates
The meetings were realized with the aim of progress of identifying out of school children and mobilization of all local actors for implementation of 3 Ministerial Common Order “For identification and registration in school of all children of compulsory age”.
Groups that participate in round tables
Rountables were realized in collaboration with local institutions in Durres and specially with:
- Regional Directory of Education (RED) Durres;
- Institution of Prefect Durres.
Special groups that participate in roundtables are:
- Directors of 10 pilot schools and other schools;
- Teachers of 10 pilot schools and other schools;
- Students, members of Student Government of 10 pilot schools;
- Psychologist and social workers of 10 pilot schools and other schools;
- Students, members of Student Government of different schools;
- Parents, members of Parental Council of 10 pilot schools;
- Representatives of different local institutions in Durres;
- Working group from Ministries and depending institutions for implementation of 3 Ministerial Common Order.
Roundtables result with a large participation of different representatives, whom express their interest for mobilization in the frameworks of 3MO implementation.
Debate and Discussions for the Albanian reality of Early Marriages: The need for intervention. . .”
Debate and discussions for “The Albanian reality of Early Marriages: The need for intervention. . .”
Observatory for Children’s Rights in partnership with the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives organized the Conference focused on enhancing of different stakeholders engagement and outline of intervention strategies to prevent and eradicate the phenomenon of child early marriage in Albania. Drawbacks and perpetual problems faced by girls–women and their newly established families throughout their lives were acknowledged and addressed in the statements/speeches of high governmental authorities, as well as by each panelist and participant of this conference.
Research tackling issues related to early and child marriages as societal problems of women and youth at the local levels, along with increasing of awareness to prevent early child marriage at the local and national level can be considered innovative and progressive in countries like Albania, where this phenomenon has spread its roots deep into history and unfortunately revived lately by the very dynamic social factors of a prolonged transition. Regional and global research place special focus on indicating the long-lasting consequences of the child early marriage on physical and emotional wellbeing and infringements of the rights to education and development (personal, professional and economic). Similar findings were evidenced through our detailed snapshot of the Albanian reality urging for immediate interventions to address the push and pulling factors of child early marriage in Albanian context.
Under the CRC[1] and CEDAW[2] Albania is required to consider the issue of early marriages and report about it. The coordination and intensification of joint efforts on early marriage in the Albanian context is a crucial imperative.
The constructive debates has bring the expression of the willingness of Ministries for future cooperation to reduce underage marriages through:
- Strengthening the role of CPUs and CRU’s which are suitably placed at local and regional level;
- Support of young mothers through specific social intervention programs;
- Individual work with girls -mothers;
- Addressing the gaps through adoption of necessary changes in the legal framework;
- Conducting of a national study including areas in northern Albania;
- Provision of tailored psycho-social services to address young people needs.
The multifaceted issue of early marriage both in terms of reducing its occurrence and in terms of adressing its consequences represents a give-and-take process among different stakeholders groups including the Government of Albania and its host of institutions, the local government as implementer and supporter of policies, donor community interested in the issues related to early marriage, media outlets, community at the local level, and the civil society operating at the local level.
We are convinced and inspired that an effective cooperation among the above-mentioned stakeholders will provide the best policy and social environment where these girls are empowered to have a stronger voice and take the lead of their lives – “to enjoy being girls before being brides!”
Team Work
Observatory for Children’s Rights
[1] Child Rights Convention
[2] Convention for Elemination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women
Workshop, consultation and debate for Out of School Children
Tirana, 27 January 2016
Workshop, consultation and debate
Out of School Children- Phase II
Observatory for Children’s Rights, Ministry of Education and Sports in partnership with UNICEF Albania, have realized the Workshop, consultation and debate in the framework of the initiative “Every child in school”.
“Out of school children”, an initiative of MoES, in partnership with UNICEF is implemented by the Observatory for Children’s Rights. This initiative started in 2013 and was followed by the Observatory for Children’s Rights from 2014 onward, with the aim of identifying and registering in school all children of compulsory education age as well as preventing school leave by children who are at risk of dropping out. This initiative aims to establish adequate mechanisms that facilitate the attendance of school from every child of compulsory school age till 9 grade.
This Workshop has collected together representatives of Regional Education Directories, Education Officces, MoES specialists, as well as other experts tasked with collecting data for the registration and keeping the children in school enrollment, in Albania.
