On Teacher’s Day, EU Ambassador Soreca and UNDP Resident Representative Merino visit the newly reconstructed “Sherif Dervishi” school & kindergarten, part of the #EU4Schools Programme

The Head of the EU Delegation to Albania Luigi Soreca and UNDP Resident Representative Monica Merino visited today the “Sherif Dervishi” 9-year school and kindergarten located in Budull, Kruja Municipality.  119 pupils, 27 children attending kindergarten and 14 teachers started the new academic year in a new school rebuilt from scratch by the #EU4Schools Programme. The old school was thoroughly destroyed by the 2019 earthquake that hit Albania.

Ambassador Soreca and Merino visited the kindergarten and the school premises including the library, the biology lab, and the indoor sports gym. They interacted with children and teachers about the new learning and teaching opportunities the new school offers.

EU Ambassador to Albania Luigi Soreca said: “EU Ambassador to Albania Luigi Sorecasaid: “Great to see how the EU’s quick and effective response to the post-earthquake recovery process in the education sector in Albania is becoming a reality for the Albanian people both in urban and rural areas.  Together with our implementing partner – the UNDP - we have been able to combine safety, inclusiveness and quality in education through participation and engagement of the local community, in full application of the principle “build back together”. Now it is very important to ensure sustainability for these new schools, through adequate maintenance and an effective culture of preservation.”

UNDP Resident Representative in Albania Monica Merino said: “I am happy to be here with Ambassador Soreca to visit the newly built school and the kindergarten and talk to children and teachers. We remain proud of our partnership with the EU for development. The impact of this EU investment in education is profound. I am very happy that the EU4Schools Transparency Portal is live. This portal takes EU4Schools open data and transparency commitment to a new level. It allows open, comprehensive public access to the reconstruction process and helps build trust with beneficiaries and the public at large”.

The new school features nine modern classrooms, three laboratories, one nursery room, one psychological room, outdoor and indoor sports facilities, thermo-insulated roof and exterior walls, central heating and cooling system, one elevator and ramps to serve people with disabilities.

“Sherif Dervishi” school and all education facilities part of the “EU4Schools” Programme are built based on two key principles: #BuildBackBetter and #BuildBackTogether - building stronger structures, which can resist disasters and in line with the highest European standards of quality and safety, energy-efficient to protect the environment. It also means engaging the beneficiaries such as children, teachers, parents, and the community to have a say in the reconstruction process through consultations. 

“Sherif Dervishi” school and its kindergarten is one out of 63 educational facilities, part of the “EU4Schools” programme, funded by the European Union with a value of 75 million Euros. The Programme is implemented by UNDP. 23 education facilities have been reconstructed or repaired so far serving 7,325 children/pupils and 445 teachers.