The latest post on Albanian Blogger was about some disturbing but factual stats about the Education levels of Young Professionals in Albania.

I’m of the conviction that the current state of our education reflects deficient governmental policies which continue to be very narrow minded and short sited regarding Albania’s development in the future.

Any textbook or family person would insist that education is a sure foundation pillar for the future of any individual or nation. Thus, considering these statistics, we do not seem to be set toward a very bright future indeed!

Moreover, in other Eurostat reports, over 521,000 Albanian’s have emigrated to the EU since 2002, coupled with a decreasing number of births, economists predict more difficulties ahead.

Personal reflection

As someone who has decided to live and work in Albania, I am not encouraged by these reports, but at the same time my hope is for these ‘difficulties’ to cause us to further adapt and change the way we look at our future.

For youth and young professionals, the internet and access to information remain a key dimension to help upscale their knowledge and skills. Though, pay levels remain amongst the lowest in Europe.

Increased opportunities for mobility, study and even work abroad, will have their positive effects in due time in the local market as well.

I will take at least 5 more years for things to start shaping up, but with such a small economy as ours, if government debt levels do not increase further, then there is some hope for better things to come.

However, I do not want to sound naïve nor too enthusiastic. Since my return to the country in 2004 I’ve seen much change but also some things have not, for as long as we continue to have a political elite which is bent on serving their clientele at the expense of middle and lower classes.