Dear pupils and students, teachers and lecturers, dear parents. Allow me, on the occasion of the start of the new school year, to wish you success in your joint work to impart knowledge to the younger generations. The dynamism of our life has meant that each year has its own particular features. This year, too, begins at a time when our entire society is involved in new and powerful processes to revolutionize and democratize our life in all its economic, political, social and cultural aspects. Our education system, as an integral part of life, cannot stand outside these processes; it is one of its most active cells. As the principal foundation of a nation's culture, it must support and further encourage them. No step in the emancipation of a society can be taken without the school's help. This is why educational issues were discussed specifically at the 11th Plenum of the Party's Central Committee, where the main lines for its future development were outlined within the framework of a comprehensive educational reform. The fundamental purpose of this reform is to shape the basic culture of our youth, without significant differences between countryside and city or between different categories of schools, and without premature differentiation in the education of young people for pragmatic and utilitarian motives; to create a secondary education suited to production; to raise the ideological, scientific and pedagogical level of education, and to plan it so that it practically becomes education for everyone. All this will place our education system among the most advanced of our time, with standards worthy of the new millennium, thus making it a secure support for our progress in every field, today and in the future. Successful implementation of the new reform will provide a secure foundation for economic reforms themselves. The introduction of the new economic mechanism, the need for the constant improvement of technology in industry and agriculture, the need to mechanize and automate them, and the expansion of cooperation with other countries all require increasingly skilled workers. They require both workers and peasants to have a stronger general education and fully developed practical skills, and the range of specialists to be supplemented by middle-level technicians. Our task is to determine the conditions under which, this year, the new type of rural school and the school for technicians can begin operating as an interim measure, so as to respond in time to the new needs of life and production. The new reform and its successful implementation will provide a secure foundation for our political and social development. The recent measures aim to further democratize the life of the country, more fully liberate thought and action, and increase initiative and the creative spirit in the work of the enterprise, the collective and the individual; and to ensure a fairer appreciation of the enrichment of the school's content at every level. In fact, this school year marks a step forward in improving educational documentation. Giving priority to and competently pursuing this major undertaking will directly contribute to raising the qualitative level of the school. The preschool education programme will also change: the new reform conceives of it more appropriately and accurately as a preparatory stage for school. Higher education, too, will make better use of the democratizing steps taken in admissions in order to further raise the quality of its work, achieve a more realistic and objective assessment of applicants, and modernize and update its content. The new educational reform and the relevant decision are also a powerful support for enhancing the school's educational role. They make it possible, in close cooperation with the Enver Pioneers and Youth Organization, and with your direct participation, dear pupils and students, teachers and lecturers, to strengthen in our young people the cultivation of sound democratic education, the noble feeling of love and pride for the Homeland, and the conviction and aspiration for equality, freedom and socialism. Through work free of schemes and stereotypes, a more realistic and mature attitude toward our own and others' traditions, and an active exchange of views on everything, it is possible to enliven the entire cultural and artistic life of our youth, further enrich their spiritual world and better prepare them for life. Thus, the phased implementation of the new reform will enable the school to play its part in the country's democratization process, ensuring that our youth are not only capable of supporting these processes, but are also prepared to deepen them further in the future, as the interests of the people and the Homeland require. In conclusion, I express my conviction that all our schools will successfully carry out the demanding tasks before them, vindicating the Party's and the people's trust in our modest and indefatigable teachers and in our wonderful youth. Once again, success and may you do us proud! ...the improvement of the quality of basic education for our youth, while eliminating significant differences between village and city and among the different types of schools, without early differentiation in young people’s education for pragmatic and utilitarian reasons; the creation of a secondary education system suited to production; raising the scientific and pedagogical level of the content and methods of teaching; and democratizing the life of the school. This will be achieved by extending compulsory, unified education from 8 to 10 years, and by completely reorganizing secondary education, particularly agricultural education, which in the new education system will be conceived as a general education school with an agricultural profile, granting the right to continue at any institution of higher education. The implementation of the reform will also be accompanied by the continued expansion of every level of our school system. This year, preschool education will already increase its share significantly, admitting around 5,000 more children than the previous year. At this rate, the aim is to include 85 percent of the 5–6-year-old age group by 1995. The targets for secondary education are even more ambitious. By the year 2000, it will— Its success will be a foundation and a guarantee to further democratize life in the country, to free thought and action more fully, and to the enterprise, the collective, and the individual; and to assess everyone more realistically according to their abilities. These qualities are cultivated first and foremost at school. Democracy and initiative are qualities of an educated person. Their development depends on the cultural level of the individual and society. Above all, an educated and cultured person knows how to use them properly, knows how to deal with new situations without confusing democracy with anarchy, or measured and considered progress with uncertainty and clumsiness. Here, young people—especially school students—must play a leading role. Our youth and schools will meet these important demands and responsibilities by implementing, this year and in the years ahead, the decisions of the 11th Plenum on democratizing teacher-student relations and improving and revitalizing the learning process through the wider use of active teaching and learning methods and, in particular, through modernization—

— New student facilities inaugurated at “Enver Hoxha” University — Enjoy them—you deserve them! Tirana has earned for itself, over decades, through struggle and work, several designations or fine epithets: “Red Tirana,” “Tirana, birthplace of the Party,” “Tirana of the Congresses,” “Tirana—the city of students.” Some of these epithets, at a particular time, acquire a special force, brilliance and resonance. So it is with the epithet “Tirana—the city of students.” After two months and more of holidays, people find themselves thinking of Tirana these days, and feel inclined to call it a city of students. And they are right. Tirana has come alive again. The streets have come alive, the boulevards have come alive, the theatres and conversations have come alive—the city of students. Tirana “strangely” feels great joy when students return after the holidays. A special glow comes over it when they arrive. It had just this liveliness, this joy and glow yesterday, too, because students came from all four corners of the country. And the city welcomed them all: new student residential buildings were inaugurated, dormitories for the Faculties of Civil Engineering and Medicine. Among those attending the inauguration was Comrade Xhelil Gjoni, member of the Political Bureau, Secretary of the Party's Central Committee and First Secretary of the Tirana District Party Committee. Also present were the Minister of Construction, Ismail Ahmeti; the rector of the University of Tirana “Enver Hoxha,” Prof. Dr. Nikolla Konomi; the First Secretary of the Youth Central Committee, Lisen Bashkurti; and others. Those present were greeted by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Education, Prof. Bardhyl Golemi. The students spoke and rejoiced. Then visits to the complex began. People are delighted. There are four six-storey buildings, standing side by side, with attractive architecture, on which the state spent around 8 million lekë. They will house 1,300 students. The rooms have three places and are all fully equipped. It is only right to think of this, too: year after year, Tirana has welcomed Albanian students not only with great joy and heartfelt pleasure, but also with ever better, more comfortable accommodation and material conditions. This “ensemble” of buildings is proof of that. Our students thoroughly deserve this care and these conditions. They deserve them because they are the sons and daughters of our workers and peasants, of our intellectuals. They deserve them because they are young men and women with great political and ideological maturity, capable and knowledgeable people who will put their strength into Albania's progress, just as their predecessors are doing. The people and the Party tell them wholeheartedly: — May all that we do for you today be well deserved! Tomorrow we will do even more, and make it even better! And our students know this love and care. Their moving words express it more clearly than ever. Here they express to us their... Some of the buildings inaugurated. “Welcome, dear children, young citizens of the Republic, and good luck and success in this new school year!” Yes, we saw this joy and happiness all around, even in the grounds beside the “Vojo Kushi” Institute of Physical Culture. For a small student town has been built there this year, as an extension of the Student City. Many students and employees of the University had come there, because… On every floor there is Ledhe Anila Venca, a third-year student of Civil Engineering, will express this love and care through even the only ones. But among at the “Enver Hoxha” University of Tirana. Just look at these beautiful buildings, including a large canteen with 400 seats, and so on. The students look at them and are delighted. With all their hearts, they offer their thanks to the Party and Comrade Ramiz. The builders from various districts, as well as the designers Robert Kota and Nikolla Verdha, also receive congratulations for their work.

Yesterday the parliamentary delegation of the Republic of Finland left, headed by the Chairman of the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Markus Aaltonen, who had made an official and friendly visit to our country at the invitation of the Presidium of the People's Assembly of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania. At Rinas Airport, the delegation was seen off by Sihat Tozal, Secretary of the Presidium of the People's Assembly; Rolanda Dhimitri, Vice-Chairwoman of the People's Assembly's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs; deputies of the People's Assembly; officials of the Presidium of the People's Assembly; and others. During its stay, the Finnish parliamentary delegation, Markus Aaltonen, visited the museum city of Berat, where it was received by Stavri Rista, Chairman of the District People's Council Executive Committee, and deputies of the People's Assembly. The friends from Finland visited the “Mu- (Continued on page 4)

The Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Ramiz Alia, sent this congratulatory telegram to the Leader of the Revolution of 1 September of the Libyan Arab People's Socialist Jamahiriya, Moamer El Kadafi. The Chairman Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Ramiz Alia, sent this congratulatory telegram to the Leader of the Revolution of 1 September of the Libyan Arab People's Socialist Jamahiriya, Moamer El Kadafi. “On the occasion of Libya's national holiday on 1 September, on behalf of the Albanian people and the Presidium of the People's Assembly, and in my own name, I extend to you my greetings and best wishes for the progress and prosperity of the Libyan people. I wish that the friendship and cooperation existing between our two friendly countries and peoples will continue to develop.” (ATSH)

● For the four economic enterprises and several production and service sectors in the district of Gjirokastër, work began this season in accordance with the requirements of the new economic mechanism; the results in the economic and financial indicators for the eight-month period are good. Thus, at the artistic enterprise, the plan for the sale of manufactured goods for this period was exceeded by 42 percent. The enterprise's net income was substantially exceeded: against the planned 40 thousand lekë, 100 thousand lekë were achieved. Solely as a result of this overachievement, each enterprise worker will receive an average of 140 lekë in addition to the base wage. ● At the port of Shëngjin, the August targets for cargo handling were exceeded by 11 percent, thereby bringing the indicator for the eight-month period to 117 percent. Increased labor productivity helped reduce expenses by 87 thousand lekë. Thus, the foundations have been laid for completing the targets for the entire year swiftly. (According to ATSH)

Two days ago I happened to visit some of my postgraduate friends, who live in the “Student City.” Their room was clean and well kept, with walls painted light grey and a few small shelves. Lovely! But I thought this might be an exception made for young lecturers now and then. I walked for a long time that afternoon through the almost deserted city. As often happens when you return to something dear to you after years away, I searched with my eyes for the buildings where my student friends had lived years before, the small but beloved rooms. But in their place many new, very modern buildings had been erected, along with beautifully laid-out parks. “For our wonderful youth, nothing is too much.” I remember these words of our beloved Party and people's leader, Comrade Ramiz Alia, as I look at thousands of students and hear them filling the square in front of the new and modern service complex in “Student City.” From the loudspeaker comes the echo of the students' fervent greeting, their thanks and gratitude on the occasion of this joyful gathering, being held to inaugurate all 10 new dormitories in the city as well as the complex's mo— On every floor are Ledhe and Anila Venca, a third-year Civil Engineering student, or Entela Kanani, a fourth-year student. First and foremost, they will express this love and care through better results in this academic year. And they are not the only ones. But so will the 9,500 students who today begin the “battle” for knowledge at the University of Tirana “Enver Hoxha.” …dern modern facility, on the eve of this 1 September. Nearly 3,000 students will be accommodated in 950 rooms, attractively furnished and equipped with all the necessary amenities. The ribbon was cut by Robert Koli, Secretary of the Tirana District Party Committee. From a distance we can make out the pink and blue balconies of the new buildings, the parks with their beautiful fountains, the new canteen, while the hall, bar-buffet, billiards room and all the attractive retail, municipal-services and handicrafts facilities are nearing completion in the complex. A small “town” within the city, built in record time—in six to seven months—with contributions from 12 districts of the country. Investments and improvements have been made in “Student City” every year, while this year, for this 1 September, more than ever before, 36 million lekë were invested in new construction and furnishing. The buildings extend farther into the area each year, and, as we are told at the administration, next year the city will also spread into the area around the Faculty of Civil Engineering. Our Party and state have never spared anything for the youth, to ensure the best possible conditions for students' living, studying and recreation. This is precisely the joy they express today with cheers and cries of “Long live the Party!” and “Long live Comrade Ramiz Alia!” Among those dear to their hearts are Dëfrim Çarçani, Valentina Agalliu, Etleva Daka, Alma Shteto, Ardiana Bitri and dozens of others from Berat, Elbasan and Lushnja. Armanda Dhimitri expresses everyone's joy. At the same time, it is the students' gratitude and great promise, made this 1 September, to work harder for knowledge and culture and to master contemporary learning. It is a commitment by the youth, who know how to express their gratitude and their love for the Party, which has done and continues to do so much to help them grow up happy and joyful… Late in the afternoon, I stop once again in the square at the centre of the city. Now we can see even more clearly the beautiful buildings, the cleanliness and the green grass. This city grows every day and changes its appearance, just like its inhabitants. I look with a sense of wonder at the old buildings where my student friends lived years ago. But this is not nostalgia for the time gone by; it is a need to remain forever young, clean, honest, generous in spirit and faithful to our ideals, just as our wonderful youth always has been and still is. JERINA ZALOSHNJA Student City, 31 August 1990

Some of the buildings inaugurated. (Photo: P. Shegeri)