Albania’s journey toward fostering democratic values in its education system reached a significant milestone with the official inauguration of the Democracy Lab at the “Bashkim Fino” 9-year school.

A collaborative effort between the Council of Europe and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the lab is one of 17 innovative spaces established across the country through the project Strengthening Democratic Citizenship Education in Albania. These labs aim to move beyond traditional rote learning, transforming classrooms into modern hubs for interactive citizenship.

During the ceremony, Giulia Re, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Tirana, highlighted initiative’s long-term vision: "This space is more than a refurbished classroom; it is a testament to partnership and a tool to empower the next generation of Albanian citizens."

Ambassador Niklas Ström of Sweden echoed this sentiment, noting that democracy becomes truly "real and meaningful" when students are given the space to think critically and engage in open dialogue. Deputy Minister of Education, Herida Duro, described the labs as the country's first "incubators" for coexistence and human rights, emphasizing the ministry's commitment to ensuring democracy is practiced daily rather than just studied as theory in a textbook.

Joining the event to support this initiative, Megi Fino, Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Arta Dollani, General Director of the National Agency for Pre-University Education greeted the students, underscoring high-level commitment to embedding these democratic models into the heart of the Albanian school network, in line with European standards.

The newly unveiled space at "Bashkim Fino" breaks the mold of traditional Albanian classrooms through three key pillars:

• Modern Infrastructure: Modular and flexible furniture to encourage teamwork and debate.
• Advanced Technology: Smart Boards, high-performance laptops, and video-conferencing kits connect students to the global community.
• Specialized Resources: Students and teachers now access digital tools and manuals co-developed by the Council of Europe and Agency of Quality Assurance for Pre-University Education.

The event was not merely a ribbon-cutting, but an exercise in active citizenship. Students from the 8^th grade hosted an interactive lecture titled "European Institutions and My Role as Active Citizen" showcasing the lab’s technology and discussing their experiences with student government.

A highlight was the demonstration of the “Swedish Model of Democracy,” where students applied a three-step process—Propose, Vote, Implement—to classroom decisions.

To promote media literacy, the school also hosted the traveling exhibition “Fake vs. Facts,” helping students identify misinformation.

As these 17 labs open across Albania, the message from "Bashkim Fino" school remains clear: Democracy starts with the students, and every voice matters!

The project Strengthening Democratic Citizenship Education in Albania is implemented by the Council of Europe and funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).