In implementation of the decisions of the 9th Plenum of the Party Central Committee on further deepening the line of the masses, the role of social organizations has also grown further. The organizations of the professional unions are carrying out their duties better in strengthening class control in the struggle against bureaucratism, in the proper administration of property, in improving working conditions, in perfecting management, and so on. Workers’ inspections organized by the councils of the Trade Unions in the districts of Tirana, Korçë, Elbasan, Shkodër, and elsewhere not only helped improve work in management, organization, and supply, but, above all, also helped further invigorate workers’ control in enterprises and institutions. Likewise, in recent times the BRPSH organizations have acted more energetically to raise young people’s awareness in their efforts to work, study, and enjoy recreation, while avoiding any manifestation of officialdom that dulls the desire for activities and initiatives. The Front organizations are acting as active political organizations and seek to know how the line of the masses is being implemented without lapsing into trivialities. The same can be said of the women’s organizations, which are invigorating their activities for the emancipation of women in keeping with today’s requirements. Now, in implementing the decisions of the 9th Plenum, the masses—the collective—have greater rights. There is talk of further democratizing life and advancing the line of the masses, but these masses are part of the social organizations. So what should their role be? What should they do to become increasingly the driving force behind the growth of the role of the masses and to ensure that these interests are not infringed in any way? The more closely each organization considers the demands of its members, the more this becomes a matter of concern within its own sphere of work. The state protects the interests of the masses. When social organizations defend the interests of their members, they are not acting against the law, but against bureaucratic elements, against individual officials who delay and drag out solutions, and who prove rigid and narrow in their interpretation of the laws. By strengthening the mobilizing spirit in the struggle against every bureaucratic obstacle, social organizations affirm themselves and further increase their authority. The Party calls on the professional unions to help increase the role of the working class in improving working conditions, ensuring technical safety, fighting bureaucratism and liberalism, exercising control, and so forth. This means that, not in general terms, but in every enterprise and institution, each organization must find its place in carrying out these duties. For example, the professional-union organization at the «Josif Pashko» combine or at the «Çeliku i Partisë» Metallurgical Combine is not supposed to «make excuses» for difficulties in meeting working-condition requirements, but to insist that every requirement be implemented, as it rightly did some time ago. Similarly, the professional-union organization is not supposed to «take pity» and let off certain cadres and specialists whom workers’ control has rightly disciplined; on the contrary, it must insist firmly that the proposals be implemented. The BRPSH organizations are expected to take an ever greater interest in their duties: how are the youth centers in the cities functioning, and how are those that have been established operating? The point is to engage concretely the cadres and leaders of social organizations; following their example, the entire organization will put its duties into practice. Political work with the masses has never tolerated formalism or stereotyped methods, but the repeated continuation of such weaknesses over a long period makes them especially intolerable. The Front organizations, as the largest political organization encompassing everyone’s activity, have important duties. Alongside the fundamental issues of educating people in the feelings of safeguarding freedom and national independence, interest has grown in exchanging views on matters of production, quality of work, protection of property, enrichment of traditions, and so on. The time is past when the Front organization would meet and listen to a general lecture on unity or alien manifestations. First and foremost, guided by the decisions of the Plenum, this organization asks: what should it do in practice during each period to respond to its members’ interests—for example, how do elected bodies report back to the masses, and how is the word given to the people kept? The women’s organization also has important duties concerning the education and proper upbringing of children and hygiene and cleanliness, in addition to the duties of women’s councils in enterprises to increase mobilization at work. These duties, too, have their specific character in villages and neighborhoods and cannot be covered by general work alone. Cooperation and coordinated action create the necessary front for carrying out the major tasks set by the Party. … The 9th Plenum has given the masses, the collective, greater rights. It calls for further democratization of life and for strengthening of social organizations. So what should their role be, and what should they do to become ever more effective in encouraging the masses to play a greater role? Daily life shows that everywhere there is an outburst of emancipated social thought, and it is the duty of these organizations and their leadership, from the grassroots to the district and central levels, to respond to these interests not with education in general, or with standard, outdated forms, but with agile, close, heartfelt and cultured work—work that is natural and fruitful, as people wish it to be. The problems that the times place before mass organizations are numerous and considerable. The point is for these organizations themselves to discuss and confront them and, above all, to act and deliver, so that each, according to its specific character, can defend the interests of its elected members, alongside the work These tasks, too, have their own particular features. In a village or neighborhood, they cannot be covered by general work. Cooperation and joint action create the necessary united Party. Mass organizations are not merely there to repeat directives or transmit messages; they convey the Party’s guidelines so as to fulfill their role in mobilizing the masses better every day. In this sense, they educate members to recognize their rights, while also becoming as aware as possible of their duties. Both these aspects of the exercise of democracy serve the interests of the masses themselves. Therefore, the activity of social organizations must not only increase and expand, but also improve in quality, so that it responds to the level and wishes of the masses and to the demands and tasks set by the 9th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Party.

WE DRAW YOUR ATTENTION The reserves of drinking water now, in March, are equal to the amount of water available in July of last year. This fact speaks clearly; it says a great deal. Meanwhile, if one takes into account the pumping and water-transport capacity and the investments made for this purpose, perhaps enough water could be supplied to another city the size of Elbasan. So why is there a water shortage? The answer was this: the city’s drinking water goes to industry—to the metallurgical combine, the wood combine, the cement factory, and several other enterprises. Let us examine further the explanation given by the specialists in the water-supply sector. They say that three stations have been built to supply the city and its industry. Two of them have been put at the service of industry. But since they were built 20 years ago, no improvements of any kind have been made to increase their designed water output, even though industrial facilities requiring process water have been added. These stations now fail to meet industry’s needs, and in the summer months, to make up for the water shortage at the plant and factory, the easiest «solution» is found: the city’s drinking water is taken. And not just a little—130–150 liters of water per second are taken. Can a way be found to ensure a normal water supply for the city? Yes. Specialists at the electric water-supply enterprise believe that Elbasan, unlike many other cities, is rich in water resources, but so far the work has not been carried out with due care. For example, the metallurgical combine takes 150–170 liters of drinking water per second from the city for process water, while the wood combine takes its entire supply of process water—around 60–70 liters per second—from the drinking-water system. The cement factory and many other enterprises do the same. All the water used by these consumers could be supplied by the existing industrial-water stations. So why is it not being supplied? Here is the reason: the station supplying water to the metallurgical combine and the cement factory has an installed capacity of 350 liters of water per second, but in reality only 150 liters are drawn from it. This is because the hydrogeological enterprise has not drilled the necessary continuous-flow wells to secure this amount. It is said that after four years this enterprise will finally bring the drilling rigs quickly. But things must be speeded up. As is known, the Council of Ministers’ decision prohibiting the use of the population’s drinking water has not been implemented so far. With the exception of the cement factory, which has begun building a process-water supply system, the other enterprises are doing nothing about this. SEJDIN CEKANI

In the industrial zone of the Durrës district, in Shkozet, the vast majority of enterprises use drinking water for their technological needs. In the industrial zone of the Durrës district, in Shkozet, the vast majority of enterprises use drinking water for their technological needs—up to 65 percent of the total amount. Despite the work done, no reserves of process water have been found. Thirty liters per second have now been secured. This amount meets only the needs of the chemical combine, where 15 liters of water per second are being used. At present, it is essential that water be used with the utmost care. One way to save it would be to circulate, cool, and soften it after use, something that is not being done properly at present. As a result, water goes to waste. There are water-treatment plants, but they need to be converted into complete facilities so that water can be returned to the technological process more effectively, without letting a single drop go to waste. On the other hand, many enterprises lack plumbing fixtures such as couplings and taps. It is understandable: water flows as it pleases here, too. Water is also lost elsewhere. For example, losses of 22 percent have been planned for the water networks. Specialists consider this normal, but in absolute terms the amount seems large. What is the electric water-supply enterprise doing? Its monitoring is weak. Here is one fact: an open running tap wastes 0.52 liters of water per second. This is known, but not monitored. Why? Fifty-four percent of households in Durrës do not have water meters. Clearly, there can be no talk of monitoring. Furthermore, some meters are not of good quality, and in some cases they are checked superficially or not checked at all. Yesterday, an urgent meeting was held at the executive committee of the district People’s Council with enterprise managers, heads of departments, specialists, and others, to examine ways to save electricity and drinking water. They discussed the approaches to be followed and the measures to be taken for this purpose. SOTIRAQ GJORDENI

Following the society-wide discussion on the school In all schools, mass discussions are under way on improving the education system and further qualitatively revolutionizing the school. Throughout this important discussion about the future development of our school, support for and approval of the platform for improving the education system, drawn up by the Ministry of Education, can be found in every youth organization, pedagogical council, parents’ collective, and so on. But everywhere people are also expressing opinions and holding debates and discussions on this issue. Let us look specifically at the discussions in Tirana Region No. 3 schools. Here are some brief statements by teachers and young people at the «Sami Frashëri» general secondary school. The mathematics teacher, V. Çami, says: «I believe that the first two years (grades nine and ten) should be common and completed at general secondary schools (gymnasiums) and agricultural secondary schools. The final two years, meanwhile, should be completed at secondary schools according to the profile the student chooses. This is better, because the changes that will need to be made will be based on the content and experience of our strongest school system, namely general secondary education.» Dorelë Haxhiademi, secretary of the youth organization of the fourth-year class at the same school, says: «We fully agree that the period of general secondary basic education should be extended by two years and that these two years should be completed at a secondary school, because the level of teachers’ expectations and the level of educational work at secondary school are higher than at the eight-year school.» Next, student Iro Gjinari says: «The first two years should be completed at gymnasiums, and this would significantly increase the number of hours of instruction (600 hours). In addition, general-education subjects would support and precede the development of technical subjects much better.» Maki Çi-çiku, secretary of the youth organization of class III in school 7, says: «The first these schools have better-equipped classrooms and laboratories than the eight-year schools.» The director of the electrical secondary school, engineer Nazmi Ramaliu, says: «Completing the first two years at gymnasiums would be very good for our vocational schools, because it would correct many differences in the preparation and education of students coming from different eight-year schools, thereby raising their level of preparation considerably.» Broadly similar views have been expressed by most participants in the discussions, students and teachers alike, in both vocational and general schools. Naturally, other opinions have also been voiced, though far fewer—for example, that the period should not be extended by two years, but by one; or that it should be extended by two years but held at the eight-year school, following the 1–5 and 6–10 scheme, before students then move on to secondary school. Their argument is that the eight-year school is closer to children and that they are already accustomed to its social group and teachers. But in all these discussions, the most numerous opinions and arguments favor extending schooling by two years and holding these years at a well-established secondary school. Thus, most discussions have emphasized that this would benefit general and compulsory education. Likewise, continuity between the eight-year school and secondary school would improve; excessive workloads, parallel material, and unnecessary repetition would be avoided; and the choice of a secondary-education profile would be made at a more mature age (14–16). Raising the level of vocational schools and of compulsory schooling would shorten their duration, thereby facilitating the planning of student cohorts, and would make them better able to keep pace with developments in new production techniques and technology, responding to them more effectively. IVAN KOKA Merited Teacher A lesson in the biology classroom of the «Avni Rustemi» eight-year school in Kukës. (Photo: A. Bodinaku - ATSH)

On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the death of the distinguished patriot and revolutionary democrat, leader of the movement for the liberation and national unification of the country, People’s Hero Bajram Curri, activities and commemorations were held in the district of Tropojë. The first secretary of the district Party Committee, Rakip Balla, spoke about the life and patriotic and revolutionary activity of People’s Hero Bajram Curri. A group of young pioneers were accepted into the «Enver’s Pioneers» organization and the BRPSH. Amateur performers from the cultural center of the Margaj agricultural cooperative and students from schools in the Dragobi area presented an artistic program. In cooperation with the historical museum and the district association of historians, the cultural and folk-creation center organized a thematic cultural afternoon in one of its halls. During the event, veterans, researchers, and historians spoke about the figure of the Hero of the Mountain Eagles, Bacë Bajrami, this tribune of the common people, and artistic pieces dedicated to him were also performed. As part of these events, yesterday afternoon the National Historical Museum and the Park of the Presidium of the Democratic Front Council of the Tirana district organized a cultural event in the lecture hall of the museum. Patriots and veterans, historians and researchers, lecturers and students of the Faculty of Philology at the University of Tirana — Enver Hoxha, relatives of the hero’s family, young men and women, and others took part. Candidate of sciences Marenglen Verli People’s Hero Bajram Curri. The painter, sculptor, and researcher also spoke about the portrayal of Bajram Curri in our visual arts and his ties with political and social figures of the period. Students of the «Bajram Curri» eight-year school presented a program of songs and recitations. The documentary film «Eagle of the Mountains», dedicated to People’s Hero Bajram Curri, was also screened. (According to ATSH)

At the invitation of the Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions, a delegation of the General Council of the BPSH departed for Tunis. At the invitation of the Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions, a delegation of the General Council of the BPSH, headed by the secretary of this Council, Vjollca Kallajxhi, departed for Tunis. (ATSH)

As part of the ongoing campaign to cleanse and further enrich the Albanian language, the education section and pedagogical office of the Vlorë district, in cooperation with the Institute of Linguistics and Literature and the teaching collectives of the Dukat area in Vlorë, established the scientific nucleus for this area. On this occasion, a scientific session was also held in Dukat, attended by teachers, parents, and students. The papers presented shed light on the great lexical wealth used by the inhabitants of these parts for various fields of everyday life, as well as on ways and means of avoiding foreign words that certain people continue to use. The establishment of such scientific nuclei, like those in Varnesë, Zvernec, Bishan, and elsewhere, and the organization of scientific sessions are serving the enrichment of the national literary language more effectively. The collection of popular words and expressions by the district’s teachers has so far reached 31,000. This work is serving the cleansing and enrichment of our national literary language. In the teaching process, too, this work is helping strengthen a unified linguistic front, because work with the Albanian word is increasingly becoming an object of study for the body of teachers. ROMEO DURROLLI