School directors of 21 pilot schools and 13 representatives from the Regional Education Directorates discussed the role of school leadership in developing anti-bullying school policies at a roundtable discussion that took place on 22 February, in Tirana.

Council of Europe international experts shared with participants international examples of successful anti-bullying school policies and strategies to be adopted to the situation in Albania.

Luljeta Basha, director of the secondary general pilot school “Sandër Prosi” expressed her satisfaction with the Roundtable stating that "What we learned today will complement the work undertaken until now and the school Action Plans against bullying developed by each school."

Majlinda Xhamo, representative from the Regional Education Directorate in Berat said - "This roundtable was organized at the right moment as we are now preparing the plans and priorities for the upcoming year and will include fighting bullying and school self-evaluation aspects in the plans. The training on anti-bullying policies development is essential because without a clear structure, policies cannot be implemented. I liked the idea to extend the topic of bullying in the educational curricula”.  

The participants appreciated the opportunity to meet their peers, local authorities and representatives from the Ministry of Education and to also exchange ideas and practices on these controversial issues. Anti-bullying action plans are expected to be finalised in each pilot school by June 2018. The developed policies and practices will contribute to the development of the National Roadmap.

This roundtable was organised within the Horizontal Facility Action “Fighting Bullying and Extremism in the Education System in Albania”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.