"You came now and reinvented the wheel"/ Zhupa-Kumbaro debate in the plenary session

2026-04-23 14:23:00, Politikë CNA

"You came now and reinvented the wheel"/ Zhupa-Kumbaro debate in the

In today's plenary session, an interpellation took place between the Minister of Education, Mirela Kumbaro, and the DP MP, Ina Zhupa.

In her speech, MP Zhupa said that the government is thinking about how to add to the problems of teachers with the instructions made. Focusing on the qualifications of teachers, Zhupa said that these are absurdities created by the ministry's lawyers.

Meanwhile, Kumbaro, in her response, said that teacher licensing was established with the approval of Law 69/2012 and is an instrument that establishes equality among all teachers.

The Minister said that no one is being penalized by this process, but aims to create a longer-term system.

debates

Zhupa: 2000 teachers in the education system. These people think about how to increase the troubles and problems of teachers with the instructions of the ministry itself. They remember and say, after you have 15 years as a teacher, after you have gone through the stages from qualified teacher, to specialist and then master teacher, they say "go become a student again and take the license exam". Teachers with 15 years in the system, they force them to enter to get the qualification as a master teacher for the license exam. You are a student, you finish school, you enter, take the license and in three years you have the right to qualify as a "qualified teacher", after six years as a "specialist teacher" and after 15 years as a "master teacher". With this logic, does it fall to us to also send the students back and take the exam?! These are absurdities, which you do on purpose by confusing the employment criteria with those of qualification.

You came along and reinvented the wheel that these people must be licensed, so that those incompetent lawyers you have in the ministry, or those directors you have wanted, under house arrest, can read it and issue these kinds of instructions. It's a collapse of the legal system.

Kumbaro: I am sorry that I do not see a group of deputies in the hall, which means they are not interested, but they have signed a request for interpellation without being interested at all. The obligation to license teachers has begun with the adoption of law no. 69/2012. A teacher of primary education, lower secondary education and upper secondary education, a teacher of oriented education schools, a teacher of general culture in vocational schools, a teacher who works with students with disabilities and a teacher with a similar or equivalent diploma in the fields/subjects of teaching in pre-university education exercises the profession after: having successfully completed professional practice; having successfully passed the state exam in the field of his/her training, as provided for in law no. 10 171, dated 22.10.2009, “On regulated professions in the Republic of Albania”, as amended, and in the by-laws issued in its implementation.

Taking the state exam is not an obstacle, but a guarantee, an instrument that establishes equality for all those entering the profession, ensuring that every teacher meets the same professional standards, regardless of the time or manner of entering the system. It is important to clarify that this process does not aim to create uncertainty or penalize anyone, but to build a fairer and more sustainable system in the long term. And above all, I want to say it very clearly: no one is being fired! But we are also accompanying those few teachers who have not yet fulfilled this legal obligation with communication and training, without compromising legal or professional security at all, which I don't know where you invented it! There is no policy, no decision and no initiative that aims to remove teachers from their jobs because of this process.