2025
Presentation of the digital notebook
In February 2025 the digital notebook was introduced in a meeting with teachers, psychologists, social workers, security Officers, representatives of the National Parents Council and civil society. This important instruments aims to improve communication and strengthen cooperation between parents and school. It is accessed in real time through e-Albania and SMIP systems.
National Action Plan for strengthening the mechanisms for prevention of violence in pre-unviersity education institutions
The "National Plan for Strengthening of mechanisms for prevention of any type of violence in pre university education 2025--2027" aims to create a safe environment in pre university education institutions and for all students nationwide. This plan constitutes a strategic engagement of Ministry of Education and Sports to improve the quality of life and to prevent bullying and violence case that might negatively influence emotional and social well being of students. It will be focused on the following directions:
- Physic and digital safety
- Measures to prevent Tik Tok platform
- Intelligent camera set up in schools through Smart City initiative
- Dedicated structure at Regional Education Directorates to coordinate and manage safety at schools (2025-2027)
- Doubling safety Officers at schools (2026 500 officers).
- Unified regulation for schools for new measures to prevent use of cellphones during lessons (2025)
- Strengthening referring mechanisms (2025)
- Investment in infrastructure of education (2025)
- Psycho social support networks
- Increasing the capacity of workers of psycho social services for improvement of students in schools
- New mechanism for information in real time through SMIP network (Online Communication Notebook)
- Strengthening of Alo 116-111 network for reporting of violence and bullying cases
3. Education and awareness rising
- New ethic code
- Strengthening the role of Parents council
- Including them in assessment of performance of school leaders
- Organization of temporary meetings at regional level of Parents Council
- Training of teachers of psychologues and security officers
- Improved curricula of citizenship
2024
TIMSS report published
In December 2024 the TIMSS Report for Albania was published. Albania participated for the second time in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), an international large-scale assessment organized by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and coordinated by the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College. TIMSS evaluates the mathematics and science achievements of students in Grade 4 and Grade 8 every four years. Albania participates only at the Grade 4 level.
In TIMSS 2023, Albania tested 5,143 students from 200 schools, compared to 4,574 students in 2019. This cycle marked the transition from a paper-based assessment (PBA) in 2019 to a digital format (CBA) in 2023, in line with global developments in educational assessment.
Key Results
- Mathematics (Grade 4):
Average score increased from 494 (2019) to 512 (2023), surpassing the international average of 503. - Science (Grade 4):
Slight improvement from 489 (2019) to 491 (2023), close to the international average of 494. - Gender breakdown (2023):
- Mathematics: Girls – 510, Boys – 513
- Science: Girls – 495, Boys – 487
International Ranking
In TIMSS 2023, Albania ranked:
- 33rd in Mathematics
- 34th in Science
out of 58 countries and 5 additional benchmarking education systems. In mathematics, Albania outperformed countries such as Canada, Spain, Belgium, France, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. In science, it ranked above Belgium, France, Cyprus, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
National Significance
These results reflect significant progress in Albania’s basic education, especially in mathematics. The improvements align with ongoing efforts to strengthen STEM education and enhance the quality of teaching and learning in primary schools. Participation in TIMSS is a key component of Albania’s strategy to monitor and improve learning outcomes through international benchmarking.
320 teachers that will act as quality coordinators at school presented
320 teachers that will act as quality assurance coordinators at school nationwide were presented. They will assist in strengthening quality of teaching at school and in support of professional training for teachers at pre-university education level. .
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:
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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.
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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.
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Training of primary education teachers to improve students' coding and digital skills in schools equipped with SmartLab.
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Training of lower secondary education teachers for the realization of the TALIS 2024 international survey.
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Training of teachers of lower secondary education for the variety of activities related to improving the career orientation of students towards secondary education.
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Training of pre-university education teachers to improve the methodology during the lesson in relation to comprehensive techniques.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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:
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Professional competencies of teachers,
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Entering the teaching profession,
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Professional development opportunities,
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Stages of qualification or career,
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Roles and responsibilities,
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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.
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 development of education.