PINK Embassy presents the LGBTI topic in Shkodra’s high schools

Shkodra, 17 February 2016 – PINK Embassy / LGBT Pro Albania with the support of the European Union held today a training session on LGBTI topics with teachers from high schools of Shkodra. The training session was held with teachers and psychologists from social and natural sciences of the cities high schools.

Held in the framework of the initiative “Improving the lives of LGBTI people at the local level” and in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Sport and the Regional Directorate of Education of Shkodra, the training aimed to inform and discuss with teachers and psychologists the concepts, problems and challenges that LGBTI people face in society. Special focus was given to young LGBTI people and the problems they face with discrimination and bullying in schools.

The trainings shed light on a series of issues and challenges related to the official position of schools, personal perceptions of teachers and institutional as well as policy challenges related to this topic and particular and discrimination in general.

From a professional viewpoint teachers made it clear that it is work practice, legal and professional obligation to combat discrimination and to address any such issue with their superiors and work to solve such problems, even those related to this community.

From the presentations and discussions with the teachers and psychologists it became clear that being LGBTI is not perceived as something related to the system of values that teachers should or can protect in the schools which shows that the education reform should address and prioritize the issues of protection from discrimination and bullying as well as awareness raising and adequate information on the LGBTI topic.

The initiative “Improving the lives of LGBTI people at the local level” is being implemented in the cities of Tirana, Durrës, Elbasan, Korcha, Vlora and Shkodra. Part of the initiative will be a study on the perceptions of teachers and students on discrimination and bullying as well as an awareness anti-bullying campaign with high-schools.

PINK Embassy / LGBT Pro Albania wishes to express its gratitude to the Ministry of Education and Sports, Regional Directorate of Education and specifically the directors of the high-schools of the city of Shkodra for their cooperation and support in holding these awareness activities. The initiatives have a historic value for our country and PINK recognizes the will of the Albanian Government to work in combating discrimination and bullying and effectively protect LGBTI students and teachers.

For more information please contact: info@pinkembassy.al; Tel: 04 2265741