Training
Most children in Albania attend preschool.
The compulsory schooling begins at the age of six and
lasts for nine years. Then follows a voluntary
three-year high school with both vocational and
theoretical programs.
The tuition is formally free of charge, but sometimes
parents are forced to pay for books and other equipment.
This means that some children, especially in rural
areas, do not complete primary school. Around nine out
of ten children attend elementary school, and a clear
majority go on to high school. Both compulsory school
and upper secondary school are completed with degree
projects that must be approved in order for the student
to continue to the next level.
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Allcitypopulation: Offers a list of biggest cities in the state of
Albania, including the capital city which hosts major colleges and
universities.
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COUNTRYAAH:
Country facts of Albania, including geography profile, population statistics, and business data.
The Greek and Macedonian minorities have their own
schools with teaching in their own language. However,
this does not apply to the Roma. Many Roma children do
not attend school at all, and the illiteracy within the
group is very high. Almost everyone can read and write
among the population at large.
Of the many universities and colleges in the country,
around two-thirds are private. Tirana University is the
largest and most reputable. Nearly one in six young
people study at the university level and among them a
clear majority are women. For college studies, students
may pay fees that depend on family income. The standard
of higher education is considered low and many therefore
choose to study abroad.
The proportion of Albanians with a college degree is
low. Many highly educated have chosen to leave the
country for more attractive employment abroad. During
the period 1990-2005, more than half of the country's
university teachers and researchers emigrated.
According to the World Bank, the relatively low level
of education poses an obstacle to Albania's economic
development, as the companies find it difficult to find
competent staff.
During the 1990s, education underwent a reform away
from the Marxist-Leninist principles that previously
characterized it. The entire school system suffered
chaos during the economic and political crisis of
1991-1992. Almost a third of all schools were vandalized
and thousands of teachers fled abroad. Many schools have
since been renovated with the help of foreign aid.
Despite this, there is still a shortage of school
premises, materials and teachers, especially in rural
areas.
FACTS - EDUCATION
Proportion of children starting primary
school
96.5 percent (2017)
Number of pupils per teacher in primary
school
18 (2017)
Reading and writing skills
97.2 percent (2012)
Public expenditure on education as a
percentage of GDP
7.5 percent (2017)
Public expenditure on education as a
percentage of the state budget
7.5 percent (2017)
2012
December
New refusal from the EU
Albania is again denied its request for a position as
a candidate country for the EU. The Union Council of
Ministers calls for clearer progress in the fight
against corruption and organized crime, and for the
country to make general choices of international
standards.
November
Albania celebrates its 100th anniversary
November 28
Albania celebrates its 100th anniversary as an
independent nation with festivities in Tirana, among
others. The Greek Foreign Minister refuses to attend,
citing Berisha in a speech that the Declaration of
Independence in 1912 covers all Albanians, even in Greek
territories. The Albanian government regrets that the
speech did not express any territorial requirements.
Kung Zog's dust is buried in Albania
The remains of King Zog were buried in a newly built
family mausoleum in Tirana at a solemn ceremony in the
presence of, among others, President Nishani. Zog left
the country during the Italian invasion of 1939 and died
in France in 1961. Parliament approved in October 2012
that the dust should be returned to Albania.
September
The criminal immunity of politicians is limited
Parliament is voting to limit the ability of
suspected MPs and other high-ranking officials to avoid
prosecution and trial;
August
The new garbage can is sharpened
Following harsh criticism of a law on waste
management, the government decides to shorten the list
of garbage that may be imported into the country, from
56 different types of garbage to 25. Thus, the
government considers that it has guaranteed that no
environmentally hazardous waste will enter the country.
June
Minister is elected new president
Interior Minister Bujar Nishani is elected president
after negotiations between the government and the
opposition over a joint, partyless candidate collapse.
According to an opinion poll, a large majority of
Albanians believe that the president should stand over
party politics.
April
A new party for the middle class is formed
Defenders from PD form a new party, New Democratic
Spirit (FRD), which says it will represent the emerging
middle class who do not feel at home in any of the
established parties.
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