Today, on the marked day of Teachers' Day, President Bajram Begaj gathered Albanian teachers from all regions and the diaspora in a reception, in a ceremony dedicated to their national contribution to the preservation, transmission and heritage of the Albanian language.
Invited to this activity were retired teachers from all over Albania, teachers from Albanian schools in Kosovo, Montenegro and the region, as well as teachers from Albanian schools in the diaspora, coming from different countries around the world.
During his welcoming speech, President Begaj, honoring the courageous act of the patriots of the First Albanian Teacher's School, expressed gratitude to all Albanian teachers for their national mission.
"March 7 is not just a calendar holiday. It is a moment of national reflection. The more we invest in education, the more we invest in our future. The more we respect and honor the teacher, the more we respect and honor ourselves, our society and our nation," declared President Begaj at the opening of the ceremony.
The President of the Republic also praised the service rendered to the mother tongue by teachers of Albanian schools in the diaspora.
"You have something stronger, something that is related to the conviction that language is not simply a means of communication, but is our identity. It carries within itself the stories of our ancestors, the lullabies and the dreams of our Renaissance people. Every time an Albanian word is lost, a part of our soul is also lost. Therefore, your work in the diaspora is not simply teaching, but also preserving the spiritual connection with the nation. In your classes, the Albanian language is not taught only as grammar. It is taught as history, as memory, as a connection with grandparents, with our homeland and with our roots."
"You are our most precious ambassadors. You are preventing the loss of the Albanian spirit in the waves of globalization. You are the bridge that connects generations. You are the guarantee that integration does not mean assimilation. You are the proof that a nation is not measured only by the territory it has, but by the language it preserves and inherits", - underlined President Begaj, emphasizing that for this the gratitude is deep and permanent.
The Head of State also praised veteran teachers from Kosovo for their courage and sacrifice in the face of the violence and repression of the Milosevic regime, when many of them turned their homes into Albanian schools.
"You proved that a people's schools can be closed, their books can be banned, their freedom can be limited, but their minds can never be stopped, their thirst for knowledge cannot be quenched, and their will to educate the next generation cannot be exhausted," declared the President of the Republic, emphasizing that thanks to this sacrifice, Kosovo has made significant progress in education.
In his welcoming speech, the President of the Republic encouraged teachers to face the challenges of the time, emphasizing that quality education remains a national challenge.
"Our language is our common wealth and its protection is a national project that includes us all. The state must be your main partner in this mission, ensuring that your professional energy has the appropriate institutional support. On behalf of the Republic of Albania, I express my deepest gratitude for the knowledge you convey, for the dedication you show and for the example you set and inspire."
At the end of his greeting, the Head of State emphasized that March 7 is a moment of national reflection, as investing in education is an investment in the future and respect for teachers is respect for oneself and society.
