Ei-iE

This month, the Trade Union Federation of Education and Science (FSASH-TUFESA) and the Independent Trade Union of Education of Albania (SPASH-ITUEA), the two EI affiliates in the country, have started implementing a project entitled “Child Labour and EFA in Albania: The Teachers’ Contribution.“

According to official figures from the Ministry of Education, during the 2004-2005 school year about 8,000 pupils dropped out of schools in Albania. Fifty-two percent of these children live in rural areas. FSASH and SPASH are specifically committed to work on child labour prevention and elimination. They are doing so by engaging teachers in schools - as well as wider communities - in the fight against child labour. The latest project has as its main objective the prevention of child labour in rural areas by working on the retention of children in schools in rural, particularly in the areas of Elbazan, Korce and Kamza. The project directly benefits 130 children of 10-15 years, their families and communities, as well as 68 teachers and school trade union leaders. In addition, more than 4,000 students and 200 teachers and trade union members will indirectly benefit from the project. The initiative will identify children at risk of becoming child workers; raise awareness on the importance of promoting Education for All and child labour prevention, as well as strenghtening the role of teachers and their unions in progressively eliminating child labour in the country. A gender approach will be followed, paying special attention to the situation of girls and encouraging them to attend school and complete their education. The project will also endeavour to bring into the education system children from minority ethnic groups. This project is being implemented through funds awarded by the jury of the "Nederlandse Onderwijs Tentoonstelling - Dutch Education Exhibition” (NOT) in January 2007, in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

For more information please contact Mr. Stavri Liko at : [email protected]