Thousands of protesters gathered in front of the Education Ministry on Wednesday. Some threw bricks at the building. They broke metal sidewalk barriers and overturned rubbish bins, Reuters footage showed.

It was the most violent outbreak of the anti-corruption protests, which began in May and have posed a growing challenge to Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government.

“Protest is a legitimate right, but it cannot be used as a justification for violence, the destruction of the city or ugly brawls in the middle of the street,” Deputy Prime Minister Albana Kociu said on Facebook. “I call on students and every honest citizen who believes in the right to protest: distance yourselves from violence and vandalism!”

Student organisers said the protest was over conditions at universities, the costs of higher education, financial support and job prospects after graduation.

The unrest is part of a wider wave of student activism sweeping Europe over education and living conditions. In France, secondary school pupils have staged weeks of protests and school blockades demanding more teachers and better conditions, arguing that run-down school buildings and overcrowded classes are harming education.
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-10-14/fire-breaks-out-at-albanias-education-ministry-during-student-protest