University closures concern students, spark political debate

TIRANA, Aug. 12 – Following last week’s government decision to close 17 private universities over low standards, there has been concern among students who are mid-way in their studies and political anger by the opposition directed at the government.
Prime Minister Edi Rama said some of the universities in question were little more than diploma mills, but education authorities said they would make it possible for students attending them to transfer to public and other private universities.
The government has also suspended the licenses of another 13 private universities as well, most of which will have to fulfill certain criteria or not be able to take a new class in the fall.
“The decisions were made after the Education Ministry made a verification process on the legitimate criteria public and private universities had to follow,” Rama said. He had earlier said the government took the radical step to “end the shameful cropping up of pyramid schemes in the education sector and the trade in fake diplomas in Albania.”
However, the main opposition Democratic Party of Tirana Mayor Lulzim Basha accused the government of taking the action to support certain universities in favor of others. It added the move endangered the future of some 6,000 students who currently attend the universities scheduled to shut down.
After one university tried to charge students 500 euros for obtaining their transfer records, the Ministry of Education intervened to force the institution to provide the records free of charge.