The group includes children of 1-6 years old, students, those receiving unemployment and social assistance benefits, the disabled, pregnant women up to a year after delivery and military personnel. The number of children placed in institutions is relatively low due to the strong extended family links existing in Albania. However the social and economic changes and in particular the strong migration flows brought about by the transition is weakening family ties. Formally children are allowed to stay in institutions only until they reach the age of 14. In Albania primary education is compulsory and free, while pre-school and secondary education are free but not compulsory.
University is also free of charge.
The inadequate physical environment offered by maternity schools is not attractive and basic teaching tools are missing. Many women who lost their jobs during the transition prefer to keep the younger children at home. Despite the lack of reliable date it is common belief that enrolment rates are lower in the poorest areas where children are called to help support the family at an early age attending cattle instead of going to school. Furthermore, in the period of 1990-92 more than 5,000 school buildings of all educational levels were destroyed or damaged. The 1997 crisis brought further damages to the already poor school infrastructure.