Democratic Party Chairman Lulzim Basha presented today the program of education that will be implemented after the April 25. Basha promised that his government will offer free schoolbooks for 350,000 pupils and students, also to pay the tuition fees for all university students that come from families with monthly income below 64,000 Lek per month.

"Dear fellow citizens. Dear students and professors.

This government has neglected higher education and has abandoned universities and students. Albanian students excel all over the world except here in their own country. There is no reason why we should not keep our young people in Albania, but for this, we urgently need to improve higher education.

1. I am committed to guaranteeing the independence of universities and the necessary academic freedom, by adopting as soon as I am elected Prime Minister the new law on higher education, in cooperation with academics, the best specialists and students themselves and in accordance with the standards and the most advanced contemporary European principles.

2. I promise that we will increase salaries by 50%, guaranteeing Albanian teachers' salaries of EUR 900 per month and professors' salaries of EUR 1300.

3. We will pay in full the cost of the fees of the first or second cycle of postgraduate studies for every student who comes from a family with an income below ALL 64,000 old per month. And we will finance 50% for students from families with incomes over ALL 640.000 per month.

4. We will invest in excellent students by enabling them to study at the best universities in the world, as well as by supporting the Brain Gain program, which will no longer be based on nepotism and political interference, but on the basis of meritocracy.

5. I reiterate today my commitment to the Albanian students that with the new government coming out after the elections of April 25, we will pay 10.000 of 12-month internships for the best students every year.

6. Grants for Public Institutions of Higher Education, is another commitment of our government for the modernization of physical and pedagogical infrastructure. Providing digitalized higher education, with an investment of EUR 36 million, with a focus on information technology laboratories and parks, areas with free internet and information technology equipment, which will be used free of charge by professors and students free of charge.

7. A special place on our platform is dedicated to funding for women and girls in high priority sectors.

Dear Albanian citizens, in summary, these are some of the highlights of our education plan. This is our plan for the future of Albania. With this plan, Albania wins! With this plan, Albanians win, because we can do more! We will do better! And we will all get better! On April 25, we will remove the worst government in the history of Albania and together we will change our future," said Basha.