In the aftermath of the education week, the Civic Center (Qendresa Qytetare) organized a gathering that brought together students and activists. The primary emphasis of this meeting was to explore the impactful student protest of 2018.
In December 2018, the student protest in Tirana started as a reaction to a governmental decision that forced students to pay extra fees for postponed exams. Students immediately formulated several demands, including reduction of tuition fees, better living conditions in dormitories, and greater involvement of students in decision-making processes. Such massive protests, involving students from other universities in Albania, occurred throughout the month of December. Later on, they changed their form and were organized within faculties, where students “occupied” the university buildings by boycotting classes. At the end of January and the beginning of February, the protests subsided, and students returned to classes. This protest was the largest student protest in Albania since December 1990.
The event organized by the Civic Resistance unfolded in the form of a panel discussion, featuring witnesses and active participants of this significant event. Moreover, the “Spring of Students,” a compelling documentary created by Inside Story and aired on Top Channel was shared with the participants. The documentary served not only as a visual chronicle but also as a reminder for a more profound understanding of the events that unfolded during that crucial period.
