LAST UPDATE: 09:46
The Albanian government has ordered the closure of the private pre-university higher secondary educational institution “Holy Cross” (“Kryqi i Nderuar”) in Gjirokastër, granting the school only three days to cease its activities following the entry into force of the relevant Council of Ministers decision (VKM).
According to the decision, signed by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, the institution is required to complete all procedures related to the transfer of its students to other schools and to cover all associated expenses. The school must also refund any payments made by parents for the unfinished portion of the academic year.
The decision further stipulates that all necessary administrative and educational documentation must be handled in accordance with the legal procedures in force.
Responsibility for implementing the closure decision has been assigned to several institutions, including the Albanian Ministry of Education, the National Agency for Pre-University Education, the Regional Directorate of Pre-University Education in Fier, the Local Office of Pre-University Education in Gjirokastër-Libohovë, the school administration itself, as well as the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania.
No official statement has been published neither by the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania nor by the Metropolis of Gjirokastër yet.
Orthodox Church of Albania Clarifies Closure of “Holy Cross” School in Gjirokastër
The Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania issued an official statement providing clarifications regarding the closure of the Ecclesiastical School “Holy Cross” (“Kryqi i Nderuar”) in Gjirokastër, following reports circulated in the media in recent hours.
According to the statement, the non-public secondary school operated continuously from 1998 until 2025 and functioned under the special care of the Orthodox Church of Albania and the late Archbishop Anastasios.
During its years of operation, the institution “provided hundreds of young people with education and the cultivation of Christian values,” the Church noted.
The statement also clarified that “the decision taken by the authorities is an administrative response to the request of the institution itself,” addressing speculation surrounding the reasons for the closure.
At the same time, the Church emphasized that its educational mission throughout Albania continues uninterrupted.
“The work of the Orthodox Church in the field of education continues with full dedication through its numerous educational institutions of all levels throughout the country,” the announcement concluded.
Albanian Authorities detail closure measures
The Albanian government has issued detailed measures regarding the closure of the private pre-university higher secondary educational institution “Kryqi i Nderuar” in Gjirokastër, following the publication of the relevant Council of Ministers decision in the Official Gazette.
Under the decision, the school is required to provide every student with the necessary academic documentation to facilitate their transfer to another pre-university educational institution. The institution must also cover all expenses related to the transfer procedures and refund any payments made by parents or legal guardians for the unfinished portion of studies, along with any other outstanding obligations toward students.
In addition, the school must provide all requested information to the local educational authorities until the implementation process is fully completed. It is also obliged to submit all of its documentation to the Local State Archive, while providing copies and related records to the competent local educational office in accordance with Albanian legislation.
The decision further instructs the local educational institution responsible for pre-university education in the region to establish, within three days of the decision entering into force, a special working group tasked with overseeing the closure of the school. Authorities are also required to arrange the transfer of all enrolled students to other educational institutions and to administer all documentation related to the school’s teaching activity.
At the same time, the government repealed Decision No. 279 of June 10, 1999, which had originally granted the institution permission to operate as a non-public educational establishment.
The implementation of the decision has been entrusted to the Albanian Ministry of Education, the National Agency for Pre-University Education, the Regional Directorate of Pre-University Education in Fier, the Local Office of Pre-University Education in Gjirokastër-Libohovë, the school administration, and the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania.
The decision officially enters into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette.
About the School
According to the official website of the Orthodox Church of Albania, the Non-public Ecclesiastical High School “The Holy Cross” in Gjirokastër is an educational institution under the direction of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania. It was founded in September 1998 and began operating through the initiative and the care of late Anastasios, Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all Albania.
It adheres to the state laws for ecclesiastical non-public (two languages) institutions and is based on the program from the Ministry of Education and Science. Late Archbishop Anastasios used to grant scholarships to the pupils of the school.
One of the objectives of the school is to have the proper facilities for the pupils to achieve a high cultural and scientific level. Along with a trained academic staff, the school aims for education and integration as valued members in society. Another objective is to educate and train the younger generation for the needs of the Church.
The teaching staff is specialized in their areas of study and some have advanced degrees. The school is equipped with a variety of laboratories and necessary supplies.
The Ecclesiastical High School “The Holy Cross” is located in one of the characteristic locales in Gjirokastër; a traditional complex of stone-like buildings. It was bought and refurbished by late Archbishop Anastasios, who felt it was important to save the historic and cultural value of the building. Inside the complex however, there are modern facilities and a dormitory. It is a perfect setting to realize the school’s objectives.
Besides the classrooms, the school is equipped with offices, a computer laboratory, a study room, a richly endowed library, athletic facilities, a dining room, dormitory and a chapel where the worship services take place.
