March 21 is International Down Syndrome Awareness Day. 

A pupil "Luigj Gurakuqi" special school in Tirana says for local media that her father Tiku is the man she loves the most in the world.

"I love my mother, grandfather and father very much. I cook, wash the dishes and I really like cake", says student Alesia Shatëri. 

"Our principle is always to show parents that their children also have strengths and we will hold on to them and move forward and do our best. Our students today work e.g. as a waiter, in dry cleaning, in the kitchen, etc. I will not leave the 'Luigj Gurakuqi' school, I feel fulfilled here. I feel like I'm accomplishing a worthwhile mission. Those in need, I and all my hardworking colleagues give something of ourselves. It is a great love that we give to these children, but it is boundless love that we receive in return", explains the Special Education teacher, Klodjana Mehmeti. 

According to the Ministry of Education, there are currently about 3,600 students with disabilities in the education system, among which about 140 belong to this syndrome. 

Assistant teachers involved in the pre-university education system are about 1700, which leads to a ratio of 1 assistant teacher for 2 students with disabilities, a ratio close to that of the EU.