Ina Zhupa proposes an amendment to the budget to include the 13th salary for teachers

2025-12-10 10:43:00, Politikë CNA

Ina Zhupa proposes an amendment to the budget to include the 13th salary for

Democratic Party MP Ina Zhupa has submitted to the Assembly an amendment to the 2026 draft budget, which provides for the establishment of a 13th salary for all pre-university education teachers.

The amendment requires the creation of a fund of 2.54 billion lek for this purpose, as well as the approval of a decision by the Council of Ministers by June 2026 on the method of financial compensation.

According to the accompanying report, the initiative aims to increase the professional motivation of teachers, improve economic conditions, and bring Albania closer to European practices that apply annual bonuses to educational staff.

Zhupa emphasizes that the 13th month salary will reduce departures from the profession and will positively impact the quality of education.

Budget amendment to include the 13th salary as a mandatory annual bonus for all teachers in the public pre-university education system.

This amendment aims to:

• Increasing the professional motivation of teachers through a clear reward scheme.

• Assessing the role of teachers in the formation of the new generation, in accordance with the standards of European countries.

• Improving the economic conditions of teachers, reducing financial pressure and promoting sustainability in the profession.

• Reducing teacher attrition and teacher shortages in some profiles.

The current salary scheme for teachers, despite allowances for qualification and seniority, does not provide for a standardized annual bonus in the form of a 13th month salary.

Teachers face:

• increase in living costs,

• heavy unpaid workload (corrections, teaching preparation, administrative work),

• especially lack of financial motivation compared to other public sector professions.

Many European countries provide forms of annual bonuses, bonuses or 13th month salaries for public sector employees, especially in education, as a means of maintaining quality and motivating staff.

This amendment brings Albania closer to the practices of EU countries.

The 13th salary is calculated on top of the teacher's annual basic salary.

This amendment constitutes a necessary step towards increasing the professional evaluation of teachers and strengthening the quality of the education system./ CNA