The head of the University Lecturers’ Union, Sandër Kovaçi, announced in a statement to the media that the union has declared a teaching boycott starting today, October 21, until further notice.
He said lecturers support students’ demands for quality education and called for a full and independent investigation into the violence used against students since October 13.
Full Statement by the University Lecturers’ Union
The leadership of the University Union, during a meeting held on October 20, 2026, at the site of the protests by Albanian university and school students, unanimously decided to declare a teaching boycott across all public universities in the Republic of Albania, in solidarity with students and in defence of their right to peaceful protest.
The boycott begins on October 21, 2026, and will continue until further notice.
Reasons for the Boycott
Students have been protesting for months, demanding quality education, adequate healthcare, safety of life and property, accountability, and other fundamental rights.
The response they have received has not been dialogue, but silence and, since October 13, what the union describes as extreme violence.
Lecturers cannot continue teaching as usual while their students are being attacked in the streets.
Lecturers share students’ concerns regarding political and economic developments, rampant corruption, the lack of meritocracy, and other issues.
The Union’s Demands
The University Union calls for:
- An immediate end to the use of violence against students and peaceful protesters.
- An independent and transparent investigation into the use of force since October 13, and accountability for those who ordered and carried out what the union describes as unprecedented violence.
- Lawful and dignified treatment of every student taken into police custody.
- The fulfilment of the demands put forward by university and school students.
We call on university rectors and the heads of higher education institutions to respect this decision and refrain from taking any disciplinary action against participating lecturers and students.
The boycott does not mean abandoning the classroom. It is our way of demonstrating that education loses its meaning when rights and dignity are denied.
We will return to our classrooms as soon as our students receive the answers they deserve.
Finally, we remind our colleagues that this is not simply a boycott of classes, but a call for active participation in the protests.
Every day at 10:00 a.m., we will gather in front of the main building of the Polytechnic University of Tirana to continue supporting the students.
Lecturers should also maintain close communication with students, provide teaching materials and any other assistance they may need, and inform them that missed classes will be made up at a later date.
We must be their strongest voice and source of support during these difficult days.
All governing authorities of public higher education institutions will be informed of this decision.
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