The number of students enrolled in natural science courses continues to decline, with 600 fewer students this year compared to the previous year. This worrying trend seriously jeopardizes the future of teaching in core subjects such as physics, mathematics, chemistry and biology – subjects where teacher shortages are already being felt in public schools.
In a statement to the media, the organization Qëndresa Kyjetare warns that the shortage of exact science teachers cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence, emphasizing that quality in education is not built on technological improvisations or emergency measures.
Although the Rector of the University of Tirana, Artan Hoxha, proudly declared that the total number of registered students is increasing, Qëndresa Kyvitare underlines that this comes not as an indicator of improvement, but as a consequence of the liberalization of university entrance, the increase in the phenomenon of cheating in the Matura, as well as the closure of several universities in the districts, which have pushed more young people to orient themselves towards Tirana.
"The decline in interest in the exact sciences is alarming. This is a signal that requires immediate intervention from the Ministry of Education," the Civic Resistance statement states, which also emphasizes that the current scholarships for teaching majors are not enough, and an urgent review of salaries for natural science teachers is required to make these professions more attractive to young people.
