Itinerary of the Public Money – Youth Reports – Meet up #5

Monitoring the Budget: Addressing School Infrastructure and Education Needs in Lezha Municipality

The meeting focused on analyzing the budget allocation of Lezha Municipality for school infrastructure and education needs. It addressed challenges in the education sector and explored effective advocacy methods to engage relevant institutions on these issues. Discussions included an in-depth analysis of the current state of schools and their funding.

Key findings highlighted during the meeting:
???? School Infrastructure Challenges:

• Persistent issues such as the lack of sustainable investments, overcrowding in some schools, and limited maintenance of existing facilities were identified.
• Budget documents from recent years were analyzed, revealing insights into the allocation of funds for education and infrastructure projects.

???? Key Discussion Points:

• Distribution of the budget for school maintenance and the quality of basic services provided to students.
• Comparison of education expenditures with other sectors in Lezha Municipality’s annual budget.

The conversation also focused on advocacy strategies to influence the prioritization of school needs. The following steps were identified to support this process:
1️⃣ Using collected data to build strong arguments in favor of increased investments in local education.
2️⃣ Engaging the community and parents through awareness campaigns and joint representation in public meetings.

This intervention is supported by the BAT Monitor Program (Budget Accountability and Transparency), implemented by the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) and funded by the European Union .