By Ilda Hoxha
In June 2024, the Ministry of Education approved a salary increase for teachers, averaging 18,000 new Lek per month. However, education unions and experts have raised objections regarding certain categories of teachers. According to them, around 6,000 teachers have seen a reduction in what is known as the ‘group salary’, by up to 5,000 Lek per month.
Through a Facebook statement, Freedom Party MP Erisa Xhixho expressed concern that 6,500 teachers are being paid less than their colleagues. She claimed that their salaries have decreased by 10,000 new Lek per month.
‘As I have been reporting for months, at least 6,500 teachers nationwide are being paid less than their colleagues due to a government decision (DCM) that has never prioritized education. The DCM on group salary penalizes teachers who teach in primary school classes. Not only has their salaries not increased, but it has actually been reduced by 10,000 new Lek’, Xhixho stated.
What Really Happened to Teachers’ Salaries? In June 2024, the Council of Ministers Decision (DCM) defined the salary increase for teachers, which took effect on July 1 of the previous year. Decision no. 425, dated 16.06.2024, also outlined the salary structure for pre-university education employees. The revised structure consists of: ‘Group salary, which includes four levels: Secondary education diploma of any level: 8,000 Lek; Bachelor’s degree: 10,000 Lek; Professional Master’s degree or equivalent: 12,000 Lek; Scientific Master’s degree or Professional Master’s with 120 credits: 14,000 Lek’.
However, what was the group salary before this decision came into effect?
M.D., a teacher in the 9-year education system in Durrës for over 25 years, told Faktoje.al that her salary increased by 20,000 Lekë per month in July 2024.
She explained that before the salary adjustment, she was earning 63,000 Lekë per month, and now she receives around 84,000 Lekë. However, she pointed out that some of her colleagues, with the same profile, are earning about 5,000 Lekë more than her.
Why did this happen?
The Unions’ Perspective
When asked by Faktoje.al, Nevrus Kaptelli, President of the Independent Education Union of Albania, explained that there was a salary increase for all teachers, but the financial value of the diploma category included in the group salary has changed.
‘Teachers’ salaries have not been reduced. According to the June 2024 decision, salaries have increased for all teachers. However, for a specific category of teachers, about 6,000 in total across Albania, one element of their salary—the group salary related to their diploma—was reduced. It used to be 14,000 Lekë, but under the new decision, it has been reduced to 10,000 Lekë for preschool teachers with a Bachelor’s degree, down from 14,000 Lekë. For another group of teachers with a Professional Master’s degree, it was reduced to 12,000 Lekë,’ Kaptelli explained.
It has decreased because salaries have increased for everyone. But those who had been treated for many years with a salary equal to their colleagues and had been equally valued as diploma holders, with a group salary of 14,000 Lek, are now being paid differently. A category of 6,000 teachers is now receiving a group salary of 12,000 Lek, which values the diploma, while another category is being paid 10,000 Lek’, explains Kaptelli.
He further adds: ‘For example, if they were earning 50,000 Lek per month, it became 60,000. However, some teachers receive around 5,000 Lek more due to the evaluation of their diploma.’
6,000 or 6,500 teachers?
The President of the Union, Nevruz Kaptelli, clarified that around 6,000 teachers across Albania are affected by this change, although there are reports of a higher number, up to 6,500. The Ministry of Education has not provided a concrete response regarding the exact number affected, but Kaptelli stated that the data for this figure (6,000) were obtained from communication with Local Education Offices.
Experts
Education expert Ndriçim Mehmeti argues that with this change, teachers have effectively lost the salary increase they were granted in July of last year.
‘When the Council of Ministers’ Decision (DCM) was issued, they redefined the salary groups. The DCM that raised teachers’ salaries essentially gave with one hand and took away with the other. The law clearly states that teachers from grades 6 to 9 must have a scientific master’s degree. The issue here is for those who completed a three-year study program. There were many who completed the three-year cycle, and those who finished this cycle were counted as earning 100,000 Lekë. However, since they haven’t completed a master’s degree, they are now pursuing one,’ says Mehmeti.
Law 80/2015 ‘On Higher Education’ specifies that diplomas from three-year study programs (six semesters) are equivalent to a ‘Bachelor’s’ degree, while diplomas from programs lasting at least four academic years (eight semesters) are equivalent to a ‘Master of Science’ degree.
Mehmeti further states: ‘Those who completed their studies in Gjirokastër, Elbasan, Shkodër, and later in Vlorë and Korçë with a three-year degree are now being penalized. It is not their fault, as their diploma officially designates them as ‘Preschool Education Teacher.’
Isa Halili from the Education Union points out that initially, it was considered an administrative mistake by the institutions, but despite several meetings, teachers have yet to receive their payments.
‘This has been happening since July 2024. Initially, we thought it was an error. We have had several meetings, but the teachers still haven’t received their payments. We have requested that teachers be treated in the same salary group as they were until June,’ says Halili.
But why this change? ‘I believe this has happened due to economic reasons. The education budget is low, at 2.4%,” Halili states.
On the other hand, Nevrus Kaptelli, President of the Education Union, says they have had two meetings with the Ministry of Education on this matter but have not received a solution.
‘We have been continuously working to resolve this issue and have had two meetings with the Ministry of Education. In the second meeting, held at the end of November 2024, we all agreed that we would fix this. The issue has still not been resolved, and in a recent meeting, we were told that it cannot be solved now because it conflicts with the election law. However, this is not actually true because it addresses an injustice that has been done to teachers. We are now waiting for this period to pass,’ Kaptelli informs.
MAS
When contacted by Faktoje.al, official sources from the Ministry of Education and Sports stated that there has been no salary reduction for any teacher. However, they did not provide an explanation regarding the changes made to what is referred to as the ‘salary group.’
‘There has only been an increase of +180,000 Lekë per month on average,’ said sources within the Ministry.
Conclusion
Based on the information gathered and the verifications conducted, we have concluded that the statement made by Ms. Xhixho is partially true. While it is true that a category of teachers is paid less than their colleagues, their salary has not been reduced from what it was before the June decision came into effect, nor has it been reduced by 10,000 Lekë as claimed by the member of parliament from the Freedom Party.
