College of St. Francis Saver was founded in Shkodër. It was originally founded as a trade school. In the 20s of the XX century, it was gradually transformed into a classical high school. It applied the pedagogic system of the Jesuit Order, known as Ratio Studiorum. It was distinguished for strict pedagogical discipline and European-level pedagogues. The college had the library, the archive, the press “Shtypshkronja e Zojës së Papërlyeme” (“Immaculate Lady Printing Press”) (founded in 1870) and a museum divided into 4 sections, where a rich numismatic collection was distinguished. Luigj Bumçi, Luigj Gurakuqi, Faik Konica, Mati Logoreci, Gjovalin Gjadri etc. studied in this college. In 1926, the students who graduated from this college founded the Association L.E.K.A (Literature-Education-Culture-Entertainment) and simultaneously published the cultural periodical “Leka“. Saverian College was closed by the government in 1933, along with other private schools, to reopen in 1936. Until 1946, the school was attended by Christian (Catholic and Orthodox) and Muslim students. Saverian College was reopened in 1992 and in 1994 it was named: “Pjeter Mëshkalla” General Secondary School. (In the photo: Saverian College, Shkodër.)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 1208.
Photo: © https://www.vaticannews.va/sq/kisha/news/2021-10/17-tetorpervjetori-i-themelimit-te-kolegjes-saveriane-ne-shkoder.html
Graphic processing: AHCF
