Non-public gardens increase fees by up to 42%

2023-09-08 07:53:00, Aktualitet CNA

During the January-July period of this year, 58,072 children were registered in public kindergartens in Tirana, according to the municipality's Open Data data.

The number of children registered for the months of January-July increased by 6% compared to the same period last year.

Since the start of keeping monthly data on the number of children registered in public kindergartens in 2018, the highest number of children registered in kindergarten was recorded for the months of January-July 2023. For the 12 administrative units of the capital there are 53 public gardens which are managed by the municipality of Tirana.

This year there was also an increase in kindergarten attendance. According to Open Data data, the average number of public kindergarten attendance for January-July 2023 was 33,000 children. Compared to previous years, the average attendance for January-July increased by 8%.

How have the rates changed?

The monthly fees for public gardens in Tirana are 5,000 ALL. In non-public kindergartens, fees for full attendance range from 15,000 to 25,000 ALL per month.

Compared to years, the fees at public gardens have remained unchanged. Fees have increased for this new school year in some of Tirana's private kindergartens. The highest increase was for suburban areas, such as Fresku where, according to parents, they are burdened by the cost of kindergarten fees up to 42% more. While in some other areas, such as the Municipality of Paris or near the "Koço Glozheni" maternity hospital, according to an observation by Monitor, the rates had remained unchanged.

The reason for the increase in fees, as claimed by parents, is due to the increase in demand for new registrations and the improvement of conditions. In two of the non-public kindergartens in the Fresku area, according to parents, from September 1, fees increased from 20 to 36%. In one of the non-public kindergartens on "Shefqet Kuka" street in the Fresk area, according to the parents, the full attendance fee from 11,000 ALL reached 15,000 ALL per month (a 36% increase).

While the fee for partial attendance (the child's time in the kindergarten is until 13:00) in this area, according to parents, have increased by 42% more.

Another non-public kindergarten in this area on "Muhamet Deliu" street, according to parents, increased the fee for full attendance from 15,000 lek per month to 20%. The fees for this garden reached 18,000 ALL per month.

In one of the non-public gardens in the area of ??the Commune of Paris, the monthly fee was 20,000 lek per month compared to years the fee had not changed. Even in one of the non-public kindergartens in the area near the "Koço Glozheni" maternity hospital, the fees for full attendance of 25,000 ALL per month have remained unchanged. Last year in this area there was an increase in fees of about 6%.

So with the return of VAT in the education sector next year, experts warn of an increase in fees for the non-public education sector at all levels.

Since 2014, education and teaching services at all levels are exempt from VAT. Excluded services are not included services provided by institutions that offer training courses, qualification, other special or professional courses, through which continuous training is not obtained for the participants, which at the end of it is accompanied by a diploma of valid./ Monitor magazine

Non-public gardens increase fees by up to 42%