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E-TJERA

Statistics from the European Training Fund: 47% of the population over 15 can barely read and write

Politiko 2025-02-07 08:11:02

Statistics from the European Training Fund: 47% of the population over 15 can

Approximately 47% of the population over 15 years of age in Albania has low educational attainment and another 35.2% is estimated to have had average knowledge in 2023, according to statistical data from the European Training Fund (ETF), a unit that operates with EC funding for policies related to human capital in European countries that are not yet part of the EU.

Only a fraction, 18.1% of the population over 15 years old, had high educational attainment. According to the ETF, this means that almost half of Albania's population over 15 years old is unable to read and write a short simple statement about everyday life and understand it. They are also unable to perform simple arithmetic calculations. With these skills, Albania's population cannot produce a skilled workforce that can take the country to other levels of development.

Now that the country's population is rapidly aging and the technological revolution requires updating skills, Albania is lagging far behind. According to INSTAT, in 2024, the participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training among the population aged 25 to 34 stands at 1.8% and below 0.5% for other categories above this age. This result is far below the EU average, underlining the need to increase opportunities for adult training and education, the ET recommends.

However, our country lacks special schools and other resource centers for training the adult population. Meanwhile, Albania has signed the association agreements for the Digital Europe Program. Businesses and public administrations will have access to the program's calls with a budget of 7.5 billion euros until 2027 for all countries. The Albanian government has made several commitments that aim to be implemented in the future. For example, this year it is expected to complete a feasibility study for and a roadmap for lifelong learning.

Our country must develop, in addition to facilities, special platforms for developing lessons for the adult population. Demographic changes with rapid aging and high emigration rates pose major challenges. Albania's population is aging and is concentrated in Tirana, while most regions are facing depopulation. The education system is struggling with a decline in the number of students, especially in vocational education, and on the other hand there is a critical need to develop lifelong learning initiatives./ Monitor

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