VOA analysis: Vocational education and tourism in Albania

2023-05-27 20:11:00, Sociale CNA

The tourism sector in Albania is increasingly recognizing the need for employees due to the high rates of young people emigrating, but also challenges with staff qualification.

Vocational education, although it has been evaluated as a priority by the authorities, is seeing a decrease in the number of students year after year.

According to official data, in the current school year in Albania, about 2,200 students have enrolled in vocational education, less than two years ago.

Researchers estimate that attention in tourism should be focused on the preparation of human resources, as much as the investments being made.

The tourism sector is developing in Albania at a fast pace thanks to increased tourist flows and investments that now affect not only the coastal area, but also the rural areas.

"The perspective looks very good," says Daniela Qiqi, tourism lecturer at the University of Gjirokastra, for Voice of America. But one of the main challenges that is turning into a hidden wound is related to those employed in tourism, says Ms. Qiqi.

"Employees in tourism" are that secret wound that worries all businesses, small and medium, that have activity in the tourism sector, it also worries us who prepare employees for these businesses".

Mrs. Qiqi further says that the current situation is related to the main focus on investments in tourism and little attention to human resources.

"This challenge has probably come from the focus that has been until now by all institutions on investments in tourism and on the appropriate infrastructure for the development of this sector without taking care of the part of the employed".

The tourism pedagogy at the University of Gjirokastra says that the tourism sector is a service sector and needs human capacities.

Tourism is more sensitive than other sectors in terms of employment for many reasons. It is a service sector and the technology development and equipment utilization part is more limited than in other enterprises.”

The University of Gjirokastra recently opened a two-year program for assistant manager for tourist services, but the possibilities for increasing qualifications are great, says Mrs. Qiqi.

Arsimi profesional në Shqipëri shërben si një bazë e mirë për sektorin turistik, por viti pas viti të dhënat zyrtare dëshmojnë për ulje të numrit të nxënësve.

Sipas Institutit të Statistikave në vitin shkollor 2020 - 2021 në arsimin e mesëm profesional në Shqipëri u regjistruan 19.024, në vitin e kalaur 18.279 nxënës dhe në vitin aktual mësimor 16.813 nxënës.

Në shkollën e e Mesme Profesionale në Gjirokastër, drejtoresha e saj, Renata Puleri thotë se niveli. punësimit të të rinjve që përfundojnë këtë shkollë është mjaft i lartë krahasuar me të rinjtë që mbarojnë arsimin e mesëm të përgjithshëm.

Të gjithë po e shohin se arsimi profesional është e ardhmja. Për të vetmet arsye se i përgatit dhe i aftëson nxënësit të kualfikuar për tregun e punës. Kjo shkollë ofrin ato drejtime që tregu i punës kërkon dhe përvoja ka treguar deri tani që nxënësit që përfunojë studimet në këtë shkollë punësohen më shifrën mbi 70%.

Arsimi Profesional ofrohet në Shqipëri në 35 shkolla profesionale por edhe në 10 qëndra të formimit profesional të cilat realizojnë kurse kualifikimi.

Në Drejtroinë Rajonale të Formimit Profesional në Gjirokastër specialistja Rudiana Hajredini thotë se rreth 600 kursantë marrin cdo vit kualfikime në disa drejtime ku sektori turizmit është më kryesori.

Pjesa më e madhe e kurseve, thotë zonja Hajredini, kryhet pranë bizneseve dhe kjo e lehtëson punësimin e mëtjeshëm.

"We still continue and insist on these courses because we know Gjirokastra is a tourist town and there is a lot of demand for workers in this sector. Tourism is not only now but also during the winter season. Most of the courses are held near businesses because most of them are practical. At the end of the courses, businesses request that some of these trainees be employed as they have job openings".

According to tourism sector researchers, professional trainings in many cases have little impact on the labor market as skilled young people leave for European countries.

The most intensive period of tourism in Albania in the past years was during the summer, but recently there is an ever-greater year-round extension of forms of tourism, which require stable human resources./ VOA