Politicization of education and culture through media in Elbasan County during the ’60

Abstract

The journal “Mësuesi” as an official organ of Education and Culture Ministry, since its first publish, besides other topics has also put an emphasis in reflecting the state ideology in educational and cultural institutions.

This ideology, which came as a directive from the state leader, Enver Hoxha, who in his speech for educational reform, would declare: “We are making the educational reformation because it is necessary in building the socialism in our country. It will serve for a better education and preparation of youth for life and other tasks, in order to build a socialist and communist society”. This was cited in “Mësuesi” newspaper on 9th February 1962.

A part of this general feature of life in the country, were even the educational and cultural institutions in Elbasan County.

During this period a big importance was given to the fact that the actual task was the political propaganda in schools and cultural institutions (houses of culture), by using even other forms of media, such as: “Zëri i Popullit” and “Bashkimi”, which were official newspapers of the Party of Labor and its tools. At least it is referred is this way in the weekly “Mësuesi” during the `60.

In this way, the media didn’t just spread its editorial line, but at the same time it suggested other media of the same line or even more radical.