Albania School Psychologists share experiences on how they keep children safe in their schools

25 Apr 2009 |

Durres, Albania: An experience sharing workshop between school psychologists of Elbasan and Durres was organised on April 22nd, in Durres. The workshop started with the initiative of the coordinator of school psychologists of Elbasan and supported by the delegation of Terre des hommes in Albania. The exchange aimed at better understanding of the role of the school psychologists in child protection in the school and sharing best practices.

Eighteen school psychologists and their two coordinators participated: discussions were about case identification, management and referral. The participants also had a chance to see an activity organized by the school psychologists with teenagers of “Hysen Cela” school in Durres. The activity was a role-play with the theme “Dress and adolescence: Does it help us to better communicate with others and show our personality?”

One psychologist from Kavaja said she really benefited from the training: “I have been recently appointed in the position and do not have much work experience.” The school psychologist have appreciated the knowledge and skills acquired in these trainings as well as experience sharing with other colleagues.

School is seen as an important institution for keeping children safe also by the Albanian National Strategy for fighting Child Trafficking and Protecting Children Victims 2008 – 2010. Within the school community a child can develop protection mechanisms which strengthen his or her own well-being.

The exchange workshop concluded a series of training conducted with school psychologists in the frame of the TACT project component which aims at transforming school into a safer environment for children. During February, March and April 2009, 60 school psychologists and their coordinators from Tirana, Durres and Kavaja, Shijak and Rrogozhina took part in a 7 days series of training organized in collaboration with the Human Development Center. Each training session has lasted 4 hours and the topics included: The importance of child protection in the school; methodology of case management in the school; psycho-social intervention with the children, teachers, parents and the community; evaluations of psycho-social interventions.

Focusing on child’s protection in the school, the trainings have been tailored according to the needs of the school psychologists to help them better understand the role of the school in early identification, protection, integration and referral of vulnerable children in need of protection. [VL]