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The decline of social science degrees: Is a generation of teachers and journalists disappearing?

Politiko 2025-05-14 11:54:29

The decline of social science degrees: Is a generation of teachers and

In Albania, fewer and fewer young people are graduating from fields that once dominated universities: education, journalism, the arts and social sciences, all of which are in free fall. From 2019 to 2024, these fields will lose over 10,000 graduates. Meanwhile, applied sciences such as medicine and engineering are attracting more and more students, reflecting a radical shift in the ambitions of the younger generation.

According to the latest data from INSTAT, education has fallen from over 9,000 graduations per year in 2019 to just 6,840 this year, a silent alarm about the coming teacher shortage. Arts and humanities have also halved, signaling a coming crisis in the cultural and creative sectors.

On the other hand, health and well-being have seen significant growth, over 4,200 graduations in five years, while engineering and construction continue to climb steadily, reflecting the orientation towards safer and better-paid professions.

Experts argue that the trend suggests a new university reality in Albania, where students are leaving behind passion to pursue pragmatism, a direct reflection of economic challenges and emigration.

According to employment expert Erion Mucca, this indicates a clear shift towards the most sought-after professions in the labor market, which are often better paid, more exportable, and more "secure" for the future.

But what are we leaving behind?

According to him, when new teachers are lacking, when journalism is no longer a dream, and when art is left without students, the consequences will not only be felt in next year's statistics, but in the quality of the society we are building.

"A country without good teachers, without journalists who seek the truth, and without artists who inspire, is a country that is impoverished in ways that cannot be measured in numbers. The profile of the younger generation is being silently reshaped, more rational, more focused on economic security, but perhaps further away from passion and social mission. This is the "great shift" that is happening in the university and perhaps it is time to put it at the center of public debate." - concludes the expert./ Monitor

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