Pre-university education system.

Organization

Based on law on pre-university education as amended by law 44/2023  the “Pre-university education” includes educational levels with codes 0, 1, 2 and 3, according to the “International Standard Classification of Education”, namely:
a) “Level with code 0”, preschool education;
b) “Level with code 1”, primary education;
c) “Level with code 2”, lower secondary education;
ç) “Level with code 3”, upper secondary education. 

In the pre-university education system, kindergartens, schools and supplementary institutions operate, which are public or private.

• Preschool education [Arsimi Parashkollor] (KNSA 0, age 3-6 years): Preschool education aims at the social, intellectual and physical development of each child, the practice of basic rules of conduct and hygiene, the cultivation of values, and preparation for primary education.
  Preschool education is attended by children aged three to six. Children aged five are also allowed to     attend a preparatory class at basic education schools, with the aim of integration into compulsory education. Kindergarten is an educational institution that provides educational services at level 0.

• Basic education [Arsimi Bazë] (KNSA 1, age 6-10 years; (KNSA 2, age 11-14 years): Basic education aims at the social, intellectual and physical development of each student, mastering the rules of conduct and cultivating values, taking care of health, as well as sufficient preparation for the continuation of upper secondary education or for the labor market.

  Basic education includes primary education and lower secondary education. Primary education consists of five grades, from the first to the fifth grade. Lower secondary education consists of four grades, from the sixth to the ninth grade.
  Schools of oriented education begin in basic education grades, ensuring the necessary formation of students in general culture subjects. Oriented education grades may be created in basic education schools, according to the rules and procedures determined by instruction of the minister responsible for education.
  Full-time basic education is mandatory for all children residing in the Republic of Albania from the age of six to the age of sixteen, with the exception of the cases provided for in this law. A student has the right to attend full-time basic education when he/she reaches the age of six and after the beginning of the school year until 31 December of the same calendar year, until the age of seventeen. A student who has reached the age of seventeen and has not completed basic education is allowed to complete the grade he/she is attending. Students who have reached the age of sixteen and have not completed full-time basic education have the right to enroll in part-time basic education schools.

• Upper secondary education [Arsimi i Mesëm i Lartë] (KNSA 3, age 15-18 years). Upper secondary education aims at further developing the competencies acquired in basic education, consolidating the individuality of each student and the totality of values ​​and attitudes, expanding and deepening in certain areas of knowledge, preparing for tertiary education or for the labor market. Students no older than eighteen years of age are admitted to the tenth grade of full-time upper secondary education. A student up to the age of twenty-one is allowed to attend three-year upper secondary education, while up to the age of twenty-two
  four-year upper secondary education. A student who has reached the age of twenty-one in three-year upper secondary education or twenty-two in four-year education and has not completed upper secondary education is allowed to continue in the class he/she is attending until the end of that school year.

  The types of upper secondary education are gymnasium, vocational secondary education and oriented secondary education. A high school is a general secondary school.
  Gymnasium consists of three classes. Students who have reached the age of twenty-one and have not completed gymnasium are allowed to attend gymnasium part-time or at a distance.

  A combined school is a public pre-university educational institution that includes students of several educational levels.
  A combined school is a public pre-university educational institution that includes students from educational levels with codes 1, 2, 3 or only some of them. Teaching in these schools is carried out in one or several educational buildings with different locations.
  A resource center is a pre-university educational institution that offers special education and special services for children with disabilities.

  A school with special status is a public pre-university educational institution that provides education oriented towards arts and sports.

  Oriented education schools are art schools, sports schools, foreign language schools and schools for other fields of learning. Admission to oriented education schools is carried out according to the criteria and procedures determined by instruction of the minister.
  A school with special status is a pre-university public educational institution, with an organizational structure, curriculum and financing method different from public pre-university educational institutions. The specific criteria and procedures for obtaining this status
  are determined by a decision of the Council of Ministers

Governing institutions of pre-university education system

The governing institutions in the area of pre-university education are specified by law on pre-university education as amended by law 44/2023. 

Vocational Education and Training

Organization

In terms of VET organization within the framework of this chapter it should be mentioned that VET schools are part of upper secondary education system in Albania.

Secondary vocational education lasts two to four years and is structured into three qualification levels, in accordance with the levels of the Albanian Qualifications Framework of 8. Vocational schools admit all individuals who have completed basic education and have received a certificate of exemption. Admission criteria and registration procedures are set by joint instruction of the minister responsible for education and the minister responsible for social affairs.

Secondary vocational education lasts two to four years and is structured in three qualification levels, in accordance with the levels of the Albanian Qualifications Framework of 8.

Vocational schools admit all individuals who have completed basic education and have received a certificate of exemption. Admission criteria and registration procedures are established by joint instruction of the minister responsible for education and the minister responsible for social affairs

The basic unit of local self-government, in cooperation with the local educational institution responsible for pre-university education and public educational institutions, is responsible for the registration of students in public schools of full-time compulsory education

Governing institutions of VET system

Secondary vocational education lasts two to four years and is structured into three qualification levels, in accordance with the levels of the Albanian Qualifications Framework of 8.

Vocational schools admit all individuals who have completed basic education and have received a certificate of exemption. Admission criteria and registration procedures are set by joint instruction of the minister responsible for education and the minister responsible for social affairs.

​Home education

This type of education is merely offered at pre-university education level. According to the Law on pre-university education  in home conditions (home education) shall be provided in exceptional cases including blood feud, illnesses or other circumstances that obstacle children from attending school. Home education can be provided for the entire forms of initial education or for some of them.

​Students taking compulsory education at home undergo the same exams as students in primary education and follow similar assessment forms. In order to complete nine years obligatory education they should complete the respective final exams [provimet e Arsimit Baze].