2024

Implementation of pre-university education reform

Within the framework of Update of the core curricula in basic pre-university education linking education with labour market needs, namely the subjects “Natural sciences, Arts, Technology and ICT and Languages and Communications” the Ministry of Education and Sports has undertaken the process of revising and updating the curriculum with competencies.

The "National Program for the Professional Development of Teachers", announced in January 2024, has begun and will be implemented throughout the years 2024 and 2025.

Beneficiaries of the platform will be about 16 .000 educational employees such as: teachers of the Albanian language and literature, mathematics, physics, biology and chemistry, primary education teachers, etc.

The purpose of this program is to improve student learning outcomes through the professional development of teachers, coordinated and institutionalized with all actors in the field of education, especially with higher education institutions focusing on language, mathematics, natural sciences, digital skills , inclusiveness and effective skills.

This program contains seven components in the following areas:

• Training of teachers on subjects: Albanian Language, Mathematics and Science (Physics, Biology, Chemistry) for the skills developed in the PISA 2025 international assessment and according to the STEM approach.

• Training of primary education teachers in the subjects: Albanian Language, Mathematics and Natural Sciences for the skills developed in the international assessments PIRLS 2026, TIMSS 2027 according to the STEM approach.

• Training of primary education teachers to improve students' coding and digital skills in schools equipped with SmartLab.

• Training of lower secondary education teachers for the realization of the TALIS 2024 international survey.

• Training of teachers of lower secondary education for the variety of activities related to improving the career orientation of students towards secondary education.

• Training of pre-university education teachers to improve the methodology during the lesson in relation to comprehensive techniques.

• Training of pre-university teachers for effective teacher skills such as: conflict resolution, communication skills and ethics.

Currently, teacher training is taking place in four components:

• Training of teachers of subjects: Albanian Language, Mathematics and Science (Physics, Biology, Chemistry) for the skills developed in the PISA 2025 international assessment and according to the STEM approach.

• Training of primary education teachers in the subjects: Albanian language, Mathematics and Natural Sciences for the skills that are developed in the international assessments PIRLS 2026, TIMSS 2027 according to the STEM approach.

• Training of pre-university teachers for effective teacher skills such as: conflict resolution, communication skills and ethics.

Teacher career framework.

The Ministry of Education and Sports is drafting the Teacher Career Framework, which is a structured and unified, systematic document that describes the different career stages, roles, responsibilities, pathways and opportunities for professional growth and development within the teaching profession.

The purpose of the Teacher Career Framework is to serve as a valuable "map," a guide for teachers to navigate their careers, set goals, acquire skills, and advance professionally.

The elements of the teacher's career framework are:

• Professional competencies of teachers,

• Entering the teaching profession,

• Professional development opportunities,

• Stages of qualification or career,

• Roles and responsibilities,

• Performance evaluation and recognition.

Information and Communication Technology

Digitization of education aims to develop digital competence through better use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for teaching and learning. The biggest challenge in the development of competences for teachers is the need for specific digital competences that enable them to use technology to support, improve and transform the teaching process, as well as for other responsibilities in the school. 

In this aspect, the integration of the ICT subject in the program curriculum of classes I, II and III has been approved. 

The SMIP platform, which is a state database for the management of information on pre-university education in real time, as well as providing services for informing parents about the progress of children has been updated. Parents/legal guardians can track their children's overall progress as well as grades for each subject, various comments from teachers, absences, etc. 

The Ministry of Education and Sports has been part of the Erasmus+ program, eTwinning since 2014. Engagement in this community expands the professional development opportunities of our teachers and gives them the opportunity to collaborate with partners at the national and international level. This community has influenced the development of the sustainable capacities of our teachers in terms of the use and integration of ICT in education, as well as the implementation of new methodologies that in their approach offer learning based on curricular projects.

Higher Education

Based on National Strategy for Education 2021 – 2026 for higher education (HE), the focus is “inclusive higher education that meets international standards on quality, academic integrity, and transparency, and promotes the country’s economic and social development”. MoES has continued its efforts to achieve this goal, through seven main objectives foreseen such as:

• Enhancement of the quality of higher education through the rearrangement of study programs, modernization of academic infrastructure and implementation of high standards of institutional evaluation and study programs. 

• Encouraging improvement in teaching and research. 

• Better interconnectedness of higher education with the labour market. 

• Ensuring academic integrity, transparency and accountability in the higher education sector. 

• Improving students’ social and economic status by providing quality services and various types of financial aid. 

• Internationalizing higher education in Albania and integrating into the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). 

• Advancing the ICT infrastructure and digital services for public HEIs. 

New guidance for teacher at disposal approved

This guidance aims to establish at local level teachers at disposal. Besides substitution of teachers such teachers where there is no need for substitution the respective teacher organizes repetition classes for students with low achievement. 

2023

Negotiatons with EU opened for chapter 26 education and training

Respective bilateral screenings with the EU were opened in regard to chapter 256 Education and Culture between Albania and the EU.

Changes in Law on pre-university education to be approved by the parliament

The law on pre-university education will change soon once it is approved by the parliament. Changes include the change in time in regard to compulsory education.

2022

Aproval of the New Strategy on Education

The new strategy on education for the period 2021-2026 was approved in the end of 2021. In relation to pre-unviersity education it predicts for several changes in terms of teachers development, inclusiveness and ICT development and  other important challenges for the years to come.

2021

Experience of Complementary Learning in the Pre-university Education System in Albania

The global pandemic Covid-19, brought many challenges to the education system in Albania, as well as in other countries. In March 2020 the entire lessons switched in online classes.

The global pandemic Covid-19, brought many challenges to the education system in Albania, as well as in other countries. In March 2020 the entire lessons switched in online classes.

Despite the involvement of all actors in education, online learning faced difficulties for students in different schools and regions. During the school year 2020-2021, teaching took place according to three scenarios (in school, combined and online).

The Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth (MoESY) in cooperation with the Agency for Quality Assurance of Pre-University Education (AQAPUE) supported the schools by drafting guidelines to help teachers and school leaders as well as conducting trainings for the development of digital skills. of teachers.

To come to the aid of all students across the country, in cooperation with the Albanian Radio Television (ART) and the maximum commitment of all teachers in a record time, a television channel dedicated to "RTSH School" was created to offer all students to attend classes at the same time. MoESY also dedicated a channel on "You Tube", to follow and repeat the learning topics at any time. Digital devices were donated to students in need.

At the end of the academic year 2020-2021, an identification was made on the achievements of students to identify the needs and shortcomings of students for each subject and each class related to the curriculum. After studying all the reports received from all structures of education up to the school level, a specific program was developed with learning topics dedicated to knowledge for which students had shortcomings and needed repetition.

Based on this situation, MoESY, took the decision to develop additional lessons from September 1 - September 24, 2021, to enable all students to reinforce and improve their results. The new academic year will start on September 27, 2021.

Guides for improving student achievement in primary education were drafted to assist school leaders and teachers in lower secondary education and in upper secondary education as a result of the COVID-19 situation, which will guide them in relation to:

The period of development of teaching topics for repetition;

• Teacher flexibility in developing repetition topics;
• Curriculum planning for the school year 2021-2022;
• Facilities, number of students per class, teaching aids for the development of repetition topics; Cooperation with parents;
• Creating a supportive and encouraging climate for students during the development of repetition topics;
• The methodology that can be followed by teachers during the development of repetition topics;
• Teaching aids that can be used by students and teachers;
• Attendance and assessment of students during the development of repetition topics; The documentation that teachers can keep for students' achievements and for their attendance during the development of repetition topics;
• Repetition topics for each class and subject.

Repetition topics will be developed in the form of consultations and will be related to the needs identified during the assessment of student achievement, as well as the main knowledge of the school year 2020 - 2021.

Cooperation with parents is an important factor which will help in organizing joint work with teachers to improve student results in the main knowledge of the last school year 2020–2021. Especially for students with disabilities, the assistant teacher in collaboration with the subject teacher, psychologist and parent develops a short individual educational plan (PEI) for the repetition period.During this period, in addition to supplementary education, educational institutions through a detailed program, can develop artistic, sports, cultural activities, for the realization of which teachers of other subjects are engaged (teachers of subjects that do not develop repetition). For students will be a good opportunity reactivation in social life and fun with peers, the development of sports and artistic skills, which will facilitate and positively affect parents.

New Guidance on Starting of the School year 2021-2022 Approved

The new guidance on "The school year 2021-2022 in pre-uniersity education" was approved by the Minister in charge for education. Novelties of this guidance include the fact that considering the difficulties encountered last  school year due to COVID 19 the school year will start 2 weeks earlier to allow for repetition of some subjects taken upon during last school year. On the other hand English language will for the first time be introduced as a foreing language starting from the 1st class of basic education.

Schools Re-opened Phsyicallly in march 2021

All below mentioned cities opened their schools physically in march 2021.

Changes in the Guidelines for Schools and School Closure in Some Major Cities

In February 2021, some schools in main cities are closed for a two weeks period (until the end of February) in order to cope with COVID 19. Schools closed include those situated in major cities and levels that vary from lower secondary education to upper secondary education. All closed school conduct online lessons.

Matura 2021 Regulation Updated

Matura 2021 regulation was adapted and launched in January 2021 by respective order of Minister of Education, Sports and Youth.