Students overloaded with assignments and courses, psychologists seek balance

It has been 2 years since some schools in the capital returned to full-day classes, and these students have more time to learn and discuss within the teaching process.

But some other schools continue to have 6-hour classes, and as a result, teachers are often forced to give students additional homework, while parents, on the other hand, continue to engage them in private lessons.

The entire day overloaded with lessons, according to the school psychologist "Asim Vokshi", Tringa Visoka is negatively affecting them.

"Children are overloaded more than they should be, I know that parents and teachers want children to be engaged, but it should be in moderation, children need their own space and not constantly being overloaded, they are busy with many tasks, more difficult tests for their age, these are set by the ministry, teachers have a duty, but I would like them not to have so much workload at home," said Visoka.

She says that all stakeholders involved must know how to balance learning and fun.

"Parents want the best for their children and these private courses are for them, but they are also excessive. We can send children to any course they need, but not every day and they will be overwhelmed because then they won't even have time for themselves. They should send them to courses they need and strike a balance," she added.

Visoka adds that she herself has treated students at school who have sought professional help from psychology due to the overload they have felt at school with lessons.

"At school they have 6 classes and at 1 pm they finish the lesson, if they are in a course it should be in the afternoon so that it is not long and then parents can spend time with the children, have conversations about how their day was, but even with 13 hour of homework it would be good after class so that it is not busy but in an organized way. I have had cases when students have come to receive services from psychology because they have been busy at school not because the teachers want it but because the curriculum is such, even the best students, due to the workload they have had, have requested an appointment with the psychologist to relieve stress and burden", said Visoka.

Tuana Duraj, an 8th grade student, says that she had to join a sports club just to have an activity for her enjoyment and not feel the pressure and excessive commitment to homework and lessons.

"I am at the 'Asim Vokshi' school, where the schedule starts at 8, we have 6 hours of lessons, since we do not have full-day lessons in this school, the teachers are forced to give us homework, this is a burden for us, but we try to classify these in a way that makes it easier. When I return home, I am engaged in private English and volleyball courses, this is a burden not only for me but also for other students, and on those days when I do not have classes, I try to spend time with my family. I play volleyball to relax and get away from lessons and homework," said Duraj.

The principal of this school, Nazif Jashari, also mentions that students these days are very busy and the afternoon is not enough for them to pay attention to the wishes of the little ones.

"In cycles 6-9 there is a problem with homework because teachers do not have time to solve them during the teaching process and are forced to do them at home, I think it is a burden because in the afternoon it takes up their free time and they need to engage in other sports activities. I believe that children are very busy in the afternoon, they should engage in relaxing sports activities because sports relieve stress and anxiety. In these cases, the balance between learning and entertainment is not being achieved, students constantly say that they are busy with lessons and that they do not have time to deal with themselves and their desires", stated Jasharaj.

The "Asim Vokshi" school is part of the full-day school, but its students in grades 1-5 have been moved to the "Zenel Hajdini" school.