Conversation by our editor Avdul Dule with leading officials of the Ministry of Education One after another, the various school cycles are bringing the school year to an end. After an intensive period of lessons, filled with major objectives and emotions, everyone can hardly wait for the holiday season. Meanwhile, the examination season in the halls of secondary and higher schools is gradually drawing to a close. The process of meeting the requirements for vocational secondary schools and higher education has been completed. Student placements in the districts have been completed. Society as a whole experiences the assessments made in this “harvest” of learning. Almost every family experiences them, too, given that more than 30 percent of the population sits at school desks. They are our children, brothers and sisters, who bring the great world of knowledge through the doors of every home each day, along with the anxiety that comes with the aspiration to make qualitative progress along the paths of modern education. And yet, even if only for a short time, reflection and rest are needed. The beaches are beginning to fill up. Holiday camps await pioneers and young people. Everyone has thought, in their own way, about how to spend this summer. But let us leave them to rest. Meanwhile, as one talks with officials in the offices of the Ministry of Education, one gets the impression that they speak mostly about the coming September. One senses that September 1 is not far away. For them, it has almost arrived. We excerpt from the conversations held: - Meanwhile, has repair and equipment work begun in the existing schools and dormitories? - It must be acknowledged that there are shortages in this area that cannot be overcome without substantial support in material resources. Desks, windowpanes, etc., are needed. Rako... [continues cut off] - Although it is still early, now that the public discussion about the school has concluded, can we speak in advance about any measures to be implemented in this school year? Vasillaq Zoto: This year we will open a veterinary school in Fier; the medical school in Korçë will reopen, and a general mechanical school will open in Elbasan. The view that villages should have a general school where agricultural knowledge is also taught has now been deemed correct. This school will turn out students with an education that will enable them to attend all branches of higher education. I would say that, in order to save time, starting now, in the first and second years of agricultural secondary schools, which are the foundation of our secondary education, the curricula can gradually be brought into line with those of general secondary schools. In particular, in addition to the dormitory expansions, I would also mention those in Ballsh, Himarë and Pogradec, the latter two built with contri... [continues cut off] Vasillaq Zoto: Many of these have now been tested, so the word “experiment” has become merely a concept. It would be appropriate to make them widespread, but shortages of material resources in particular are an obstacle. I would mention as something new this year optional mathematics and literature classes in secondary schools, to encourage new talents. - Many approved programs and textbooks may by now have become books as well. How will the tasks set out by the last plenum of the Party’s Central Committee be reflected, especially in social-subject classes, particularly in secondary and higher schools? - The teacher is both the object and the subject of teaching. Therefore, teachers themselves must respond to the new requirements. In particular, one measure is to prepare guidelines for them; meanwhile, for specific chapters, it is envisaged that lecture notes will be sent to them by stapi... [unclear] Nazmi Skuqi, director of personnel: We are also preparing for the new school year by improving our work on teachers’ professional development. Seminars, one-year courses taken without leaving one’s job, discussions, meetings, various consultations, as well as the summaries of experience, are all serving to improve their preparation. Meanwhile, during this period, education too will discuss managers who have completed their years of... [continues cut off] service. The discussions will serve not to make mechanical replacements, but to raise the level of school management. The education workforce will also be joined this year by 1,340 new teachers. In the northeastern area (including Librazhd and Gramsh), of the 152 boys and girls from these districts who are graduating this year, 430 will go there to meet its needs, also implementing the decision of the Secretariat of the Party’s Central Committee. As can be seen, work and planning for September are already underway. The assignment of all ministry staff to districts, which they follow continuously, has ensured a better understanding of conditions and more qualified assistance. But even if we consider this a good beginning, there is still a great deal to be done to make a good start on September 1. By the ministry itself, but especially by the districts and the people’s councils in every area and village. We are all connected with the school, so everyone has obligations toward it and everyone can help. the Ministry of Education, one senses has almost arrived. We excerpt from the conversations held: Vasillaq Zoto, director of secondary education: The districts have been sent the plan for enrolling students in vocational secondary schools and higher education in good time. This year they will take the step already made to increase the number of students from rural areas in secondary education. Two approaches have been followed for this purpose: adding three or four secondary schools each year in districts where the proportion has been lower, and enrolling more students from remote areas in boarding schools. Their share, which was 32 percent this year, will rise to 40 percent. The proportion of students from rural areas will increase from 40 to 50 percent in art schools, giving priority to those branches and instruments that are lacking in the countryside. - Will any new schools be opened? Qamil Talka, planning director: 13 secondary schools, 17 eight-year schools, 25 kindergartens and 3 new dormitories will be added there— The first and second [unclear: “tet”] grades secondary education, can gradually have their curricula aligned with those of general secondary schools. In particular, despite the additions to boarding facilities (I would also mention here those in Ballë, Himarë and Pogradec, the latter two built with two- and four-bed rooms so they can also be used in summer as holiday accommodation), even with all this, our problem is not the expansion of education (secondary education is at a level of 73.5 percent), but its consolidation. — In this regard, curricula, textbooks and the standard of teaching also play a primary role. Luan Memushi, director of school documentation: In fact, we have completed the 1990–1991 school year. We are now working on the next school year. This is understandable. Even technically, printing books takes time. The curricula come first, then discussions about them. I want to emphasize that this school year will have 40 new textbooks and 15 revised ones. Of the 350 book titles in the publishing pipeline, 250 [are to be printed]. I would single out on this occasion the work done to continue the experimental textbooks, such as Physics-6 and Chemistry-8, which will be introduced in 12 districts of the country. — We have heard about experimental classes in foreign languages and computer science. Has there been any conclu-

Comrade Adil Çarçani successfully concludes his official and friendly visit to the Republic of Turkey (From the special correspondent of ATSH) The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Adil Çarçani, and the government delegation accompanying him, successfully concluded yesterday the official and friendly visit he made to Turkey at the invitation of Turkish Prime Minister Jëlldërëm Akbullut. At Istanbul’s “Ataturk” Airport, he was seen off by Minister of State Ismet Ozarslan, Istanbul Deputy Governor Erdogan Izgi, and other senior officials from the prime minister’s office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Turkish departments. Also present to see him off were the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania in Ankara, Nesip Kaçi; the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey in Tirana, Teoman Surenkok; and Albania’s consul general in Istanbul, Enver Zeneli. Before his departure, Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Adil Çarçani, made a statement to the Turkish and Albanian press, in which he said: “I am leaving Turkey with unforgettable impressions, taking with me the feelings of love and friendship that the brotherly Turkish people have for the Albanian people. I had the pleasure of meeting many prominent Turkish figures, President Turgut Ozal, my colleague Jëlldërëm Akbullut, and others, with whom we had a wide-ranging exchange of views on both the further development of relations between our two countries and Balkan cooperation, as well as many issues concerning the current international situation. “Our talks were friendly and constructive. At our meetings, we expressed our conviction and shared will that these traditional relations, which have always moved forward, should develop and grow stronger still, for the benefit of both peoples. We signed several agreements, which add to the agreements concluded earlier; their implementation by both sides will make a real contribution to expanding economic, trade, industrial, technical-scientific and cultural cooperation between Albania and Turkey. We agreed that the interests of both countries call for the continued consolidation and further strengthening of the process of Balkan cooperation as part of positive European processes. “Albania wishes to live in peace and friendship with all peoples. It sees international cooperation as a factor that helps not only its own development, but also contributes to strengthening the cause of peace and security. “In conclusion, thanking you for the warm hospitality, I wish to emphasize that my visit to Turkey was very successful. It helped advance Albanian-Turkish relations and convinced us that these relations will see only positive developments. “We hope that in the near future we will have the pleasure of welcoming our esteemed friends, President Ozal and Prime Minister Akbullut, to Albania.” Yesterday morning, Socialist Republic of Albania, Comrade Adil Çarçani, and the delegation he heads visited various historical and cultural sites in Istanbul, renowned for its many monuments of civilization... [continues outside the frame] (Continued on page 4)

Socialist Republic of Albania returned to the Homeland that accompanied him on the invitation of Prime Minister Jëlderëm Akbullut returned to the homeland yesterday afternoon. Comrades Rita Marko, Manush Myftiu, Hekuran Isai, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Reis Malile, Minister and Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, Niko Gjyzari, the Minister of Justice, Enver Halili, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the People’s Council of the Tirana district, Llambi Gegprifti, and other political and social figures had come to meet him at Rinas Airport. Also present was Ali Aydin, chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Tirana. (ATSH)

- PATOS - The Shkodër youth initiative, “As the youth are today, so will the Homeland be tomorrow,” has become the motto guiding the work of the 2,300 young people from Patos. These young people, children of oil workers, now work in some of the largest enterprises in their city, such as the drilling and prospecting enterprise, the oil and gas enterprise, and the drilling and extraction enterprise. In particular, and chiefly, they work in the four oil extraction enterprises, where more than 1,200 members of the BRPSH work, making up over 60 percent of the workforce. In the technical maintenance unit alone, a sector that is both difficult and complex, 250 young people work; therefore, one can say that today in Patos young people are found at the forefront of work in all the oil sectors. It should be noted that these young people have often taken on personal initiatives beyond even what their jobs require, and this is largely because more than 80 percent of them have completed secondary school or are attending the vocational secondary school for oil workers. It is good that young people, mainly from Ballsh, Fier, Patos and Rroskovec, now willingly come to work at the main oil fields. This trend is also connected with the fact that the method of remuneration has changed and pay is directly tied to meeting and exceeding the production quota. MURAT MURATI

At the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, and as a member [wording unclear in source], the UN Deputy Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), Gerald Hinteregger... At the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, and as a member [wording unclear in source], the UN Deputy Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), Gerald Hinteregger, arrived in Tirana on a visit to our country. He was received by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Muhamet Kapllani and others. Also present was the chargé d’affaires a.i. of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Alfred Papagjika. (ATSH)

- From the special correspondent of “Zëri i popullit” - The official and friendly visit to the Republic of Turkey by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Comrade Adil Çarçani, and the delegation accompanying him, concluded yesterday with complete success. The meetings and talks Comrade Adil held with Turkish President Turgut Ozal and his host, Prime Minister Jëlderëm Akbullut, with the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Kaja Erdem, as well as with the ambassadors who signed the agreements, marked a new step forward in traditional, wide-ranging Albanian-Turkish friendly relations. These relations rest on a sound foundation of mutual understanding and cooperation that has long existed between Albania and Turkey and has steadily grown. During this visit, several protocols and agreements were signed, marking a new step forward in Albanian-Turkish relations, whose foundations were laid by our two great leaders, Enver Hoxha and Qemal Ataturkut. Throughout the visit, it was confirmed that strengthening cooperation in all fields—political, economic, technical, etc.—is in the common interest and serves both our countries. The fact that both sides stressed that there are no problems in relations between Albania and Turkey attests not only to the sound atmosphere of constructive work during this visit, but also to the great opportunities for progress in our cooperation. There is a desire and goodwill to take our relations further in every respect; therefore, new prospects were opened for earlier positive steps through cooperation between both sides, with a good capacity to overcome obstacles, in the industrial and technical fields and in other political, economic, cultural, etc. relations. Comrade Adil Çarçani’s visit once again affirmed the historic steps taken by our people and their common contribution to the history and present-day developments of the Balkans. It was a genuine expression of cooperation among the peoples of this part of the Balkans, who see the efforts and progress of our countries as important for strengthening bilateral relations. As was also evident during this visit, the many Albanians who live and work in understanding and brotherhood with the Turkish people have served, and continue to serve, as a bridge of friendship between our two countries today. In his meetings and talks with high-ranking figures of friendly Turkey, Comrade Adil Çarçani informed them about the current domestic situation in our country and the important new developments concerning our democracy and national life. The measures that have been and are being taken to improve the economic mechanism, provide facilities and address other aspects of political, economic and social life, in implementation of the very important decisions of the Party Central Committee’s recent plenums, constitute an important and unstoppable process on the path of progress for our people and country. These developments also include new steps and concrete results in strengthening cooperation between Albania and Turkey, achieved during this visit. In the talks, it was emphasized that, as two Balkan countries, Albania and Turkey have a strong interest in developing bilateral economic a bridge of friendship between our two countries in the present day. (Continued on page 4)

(Photo: ATSH)