The recent conflicts in several schools across the country have revealed the lack of safety in educational institutions and the decline in trust—issues that cannot be resolved by banning TikTok.
During her 13 years as a teacher in the Kukës region, Besa says she has faced numerous student conflicts. She explains that students argue on social media, and these disputes later ‘carry over’ into the schools.
‘We’ve had cases where students conflict over issues that start on social media, over arguments that begin with something as simple as ‘why are you looking at me,’ always for minor reasons,’ she writes in a survey for Faktoje.
Conflicts between students arising from online communication have become an ongoing concern for teachers and have lowered parents’ trust in the school institutions. After the murder of 14-year-old Martin Cani near the ‘Fan Noli’ school in November 2024, hundreds of parents protested, calling for institutional accountability and stronger security measures in schools across the country.
Through a survey published on the ECR platform, Faktoje engaged with a group of parents and teachers about student conflicts and school safety.
About 85% of parents who responded to the survey reported feeling ‘somehow safe’ or ‘not safe at all’ when sending their children to school.
The use of mobile phones in classrooms is among the issues raised by the respondents, with 63% reporting that children and teenagers have phones and use them during lessons.
Additionally, 48% of parents indicated in the survey that they were unaware that the schools their children attend have security officers.
‘The issues in schools didn’t begin with the incident at ‘Fan Noli’ school; they were already present, along with violence, bullying, and even the use of sharp objects,’ says Ermelinda Hoxhaj, a journalist and member of the ‘Parents for Quality Education’ community.
‘We’ve observed a disregard for school rules, the guidelines for social workers, and the role of security officers in schools,’ Hoxhaj added.
Declining parental trust
In 2018, the Ministry of Education approved guidelines that prohibit the use of mobile phones on school premises, but these guidelines have never been implemented, and the measure remains unenforced.
According to parent testimonies, children start using mobile phones as early as 9 years old, and most have access to social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Kujtim, a teacher with 32 years of experience in the Elbasan region, emphasizes that mobile phone use is only one of the problems. He believes that education institutions do not provide sufficient support for the mental and physical safety of students.
‘The legal framework must be strengthened, and teachers need more support. There should also be punishments and enforceable measures for both parents and students,’ says the teacher.
Edi, a parent in Tirana, shares that his 12-year-old son has been involved in conflicts at school, and the advice he gave him was, ‘I told him not to throw the first punch, but don’t leave it unanswered if someone hits you.’
Still, he feels safe sending his son to school, unlike Anila.
The mother of a 9-year-old boy says she doesn’t know if her son’s school has a security officer, and she worries about the lack of proper security measures in the school.
According to education expert Ndriçim Mehmeti, the recent events in schools across the country have shaken parents’ trust.
‘Two months have passed since the ‘Fan Noli’ school incident, followed by similar incidents in Librazhd, Fushë-Krujë, and Cakran, which, though thankfully without loss of life, had similar dynamics, and yet we still haven’t seen any thorough analysis or accountability from the Ministry of Education,’ Mehmeti points out.
‘Nobody can guarantee, and no one dares to say that a child is safe within the school environment,’ he added.
TikTok Shutdown
After the incident at ‘Fan Noli’ school, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced plans to shut down the TikTok platform, although he has not explained how this would be carried out. Still, around 52% of parents who completed the survey support this move.
But how much will shutting down these social media platforms address security issues in schools? Education expert Ndriçim Mehmeti expresses doubt, as students have access to other social media platforms besides TikTok.
‘First, there is no analysis or study supporting the claim that the rise in crime and aggression among young people originates from TikTok or Snapchat. Second, there are numerous other communication platforms. Third, why has the government not been held accountable? Why hasn’t the directive from Ms. Kushi regarding the mobile phone ban been enforced?’ says Mehmeti.
In response to Faktoje.al’s request for information about the failure to implement the mobile phone ban in schools, the Ministry of Education placed responsibility on the schools themselves.
The schools, according to the Ministry, lack the necessary infrastructure to enforce the ban on mobile phones on their premises.
‘According to Directive No. 34, dated 16.11.2018, from the Minister of Education, Sports, and Youth ‘On the prohibition of mobile phones in pre-university educational institutions,’ educational institutions are obligated to enforce this directive for both teaching staff and students. Teachers are informed about the directive’s provisions by the school principal, while students receive this information from their homeroom and subject teachers,’ states the Ministry of Education and Sports.
For education experts, improving safety in schools requires measures far beyond simply shutting down TikTok. They suggest the government should prioritize increasing the education budget, adding more psychologists and social workers in schools, and implementing the ‘Safety Package.’
‘In 2023, an agreement was made between several ministries, including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Education, and Local Government. The agreement covers many aspects, but only a few have been implemented, starting with the police officer who should be stationed at schools…’ says Ermelinda Hoxhaj.
The journalist proposes a range of changes in schools, but according to her, these changes cannot be achieved without increasing the education budget.
‘Increase the number of psychologists in schools, aiming for a ratio of 1 psychologist per 200 students. Each school should have a security officer, and the school day should be extended from 08:00 to 16:00, allowing students to participate in sports activities after lessons,’ she suggests.
For Anila, the mother of a 9-year-old, communication between the school and parents is essential.
‘There should be more psychologists, security officers, and clear protocols for managing different situations,’ she concludes.
