Moving to Albania with children: Understanding your options for choosing the right school
So, you are a family with school aged children who have recently moved to Albania. First, may I say congratulations! You have chosen one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, or indeed the world, with a sense of vibrancy and stunning natural beauty that is almost unrivalled.
Whatever it was that drew you here, whether it was a work placement, family, a desire to try something new or something else entirely, navigating the education system can seem like a bit of a maze at first. You may even feel that your only options are one or two particular institutions with significant cost implications. However, on closer inspection, it is A) quite straightforward and B) probably offers more variety than many of you might initially think.
Excluding home education, which I will cover in a separate article, you essentially have three options:
International private schools following British, American, IB and other international curricula.
Private schools following the Albanian curriculum.
Public schools following the Albanian curriculum that do not charge tuition fees.
I will be writing separate articles on each of these options in much greater depth, so what follows is intended as a broad overview rather than a detailed guide.
Please note that, at the time of writing, we are not aware of any boarding school options within Albania itself. If boarding education is something you are considering, feel free to arrange a free consultation lasting 15 minutes via the contact form on this website or by emailing info@huntbridge.co.uk.
None of what is written below is intended to put you off or push you in one particular direction. The sole aim of this article is to help parents make informed decisions about what is best for their children. As always, do your own research, visit schools wherever possible, ask plenty of questions and, if you would like a helping hand, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Option 1: International Private Schools
This is often the first port of call for many international families, and that is entirely understandable. Perhaps you want your children to be educated in English, gain qualifications that make applications to British or American universities more straightforward, or perhaps you are only here on a short term work placement and want to minimise disruption to your child's education by avoiding a change of curriculum. It may simply be that you have visited a particular school and been really impressed by what you have seen.
The good news is that there are a number of options, particularly if you are based in Tirana, where there are several accredited schools offering American, British and IB qualifications. Examples include Tirana International School, Albanian College Tirana (USA and IB), British School of Tirana, Kings Tirana (British and Albanian), Memorial International (Cambridge and British) and others.
These schools often have excellent facilities, a wide range of extracurricular activities, small class sizes that may be particularly beneficial for some students with SEND, expertise in supporting applications to universities overseas and, most importantly, many wonderful, dedicated and highly qualified teachers and school leaders.
So, what should you be aware of?
The biggest consideration is cost. These are the most expensive schools in Albania, with annual fees typically ranging from around €8,000 to €22,000, before additional costs such as transport, equipment and uniform.
Whilst the schools themselves are accredited, regulation is inconsistent to say the least. From time to time we hear reports of behavioural or safeguarding concerns at certain institutions, along with high staff turnover and a noticeable difference between what is promised and what is actually delivered, particularly when it comes to extracurricular activities. We should stress that this is based on anecdotal evidence rather than official data. Unlike organisations such as Ofsted in England, there is no equivalent inspection system that regularly publishes reports for parents, nor are schools generally required to publish examination results. That means it is especially important to do your own research, visit schools in person, speak to current parents where possible and ask plenty of questions before making a decision.
There are also some of the same challenges faced by international schools around the world, particularly when it comes to recruiting specialist teachers. In a typical British state or private school, if your child is studying A Level Psychology, you would reasonably expect their teacher to have significant expertise in that subject, quite possibly including a university degree. That can be much more difficult in an international setting, where there may only be a handful of students studying a particular subject and schools often have to recruit internationally. This can sometimes result in a teacher delivering lessons outside their original specialism. That is not necessarily a problem. As a former secondary school teacher myself, I regularly taught subjects outside my own specialism, as did many of my colleagues, and results certainly did not suffer as a consequence. However, it is something worth being aware of and asking schools about.
It is also worth noting that almost all of Albania's international schools are located in Tirana, with one currently based in Durrës. If you are living further south, for example in Sarandë or Vlorë, this is currently not a realistic option. That said, if your child is looking to study international qualifications while living elsewhere in Albania, there are still some possibilities, so please do get in touch if you would like to discuss them.
Finally, be aware that some schools market themselves as international schools because they have "American" in their name, or perhaps because they advertise a British/American style education. Parents can sometimes enrol their child expecting an international curriculum, only to discover that the school primarily teaches the Albanian curriculum with perhaps an iGCSE or two offered alongside it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that if it is what you are looking for, but it is important to understand exactly what curriculum your child will be studying before making a commitment.
Option 2: Private Schools Following the Albanian Curriculum
Albania has a wide range of private school options. As a former communist country, it does not have the same long standing tradition of private education as many countries in Western Europe. Nevertheless, there are a significant number of excellent schools across the country.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the greatest choice is in Tirana, where institutions such as Protagonist, Turgut Özal College, New York School and many others are well established and highly regarded. In Durrës you have schools such as Univers and Aristoteli, in Vlorë there are options including Institucionet Arsimore, while in Shkodër there is Hasan Riza Pasha College, to name just a few.
For many families, the cost is much more manageable than an international school. Fees are typically between €1,000 and €5,000 per year. Your child still benefits from highly qualified local teachers, excellent facilities and generally smaller class sizes than those found in the public sector. Behaviour and attitudes to learning in the classroom are widely reported to be excellent, most schools have strong reputations for organisation and safeguarding, the curriculum is rich and many schools are well accustomed to welcoming international students.
Parents whose children have previously attended school elsewhere may notice some differences in communication systems, but generally speaking, feedback to parents is regular, detailed and informative.
Understandably, many parents whose children do not yet speak Albanian worry about integration and whether they will be able to access the curriculum. This also applies to public schools, as teaching is predominantly delivered in Albanian. However, having been on the other side of the desk, so to speak, it is remarkable how quickly children, including teenagers, can develop language skills when they are fully immersed in a school environment.
I have taught Ukrainian refugees who arrived in the UK at the age of 14 unable to speak more than a few words of English. Two years later, they were sitting GCSE exams, achieving excellent grades in English Literature and were among the most popular students in their year group. Every child is different, of course, but children are often far more adaptable than we give them credit for. There will naturally be challenges, particularly for older students, but many parents report that their children settle quickly, make friends and are soon able to access the curriculum with confidence.
Some schools, particularly certain gjimnaze, which are upper secondary schools for students aged 15 to 18, have entrance examinations that are conducted in Albanian. Depending on when a student enters the education system, this can sometimes present a barrier. However, these schools are very much the exception rather than the rule, and many of Albania's leading private schools are happy to accept students who have previously been educated overseas, subject to their own admissions criteria. As a general rule, the younger a child is when they enter the Albanian education system, the easier the transition is likely to be.
Finally, there are some differences to be aware of for students who intend to use the Albanian State Matura to apply to universities overseas. These differences are by no means prohibitive, but they are worth understanding and we will explore them in a separate article.
Option 3: Albanian Public Schools
This is the most established part of the Albanian education system. It is centrally organised and rigorously regulated. Public education in Albania generally receives positive feedback although, like many state education systems around the world, the quality of teaching, facilities and behaviour can vary from school to school. Some schools have outstanding reputations, while others less so. Unlike private and international schools, you will also have less choice over which school your child attends.
That said, Albania has a long and proud educational tradition and its public education system has continued to modernise in recent years. There have been changes to the curriculum, increased efforts to recruit highly qualified teachers and a greater focus on quality assurance across the sector.
Much of what has been written about private schools also applies to public schools, which is why this section is slightly shorter. One thing to bear in mind, however, is that you may notice some differences in teaching styles compared with what you are used to in your own country. Like anywhere in the world, schools are shaped not only by educational policy but also by the culture, traditions and values of the country in which they operate.
If you admire Albania's strong emphasis on family values, respect and community, there is every chance you will see those qualities reflected in many of its schools. That does not mean every school is perfect, far from it, but it is one of the reasons why many families find the transition easier than they had expected.
Overall, this article is intended to provide only a snapshot of the different options available. The most important message is that Albania offers far more educational choice than many families initially realise. Whether you choose an international school, a private Albanian school or the public system will depend entirely on your family's circumstances, your child's needs and your long term plans.
If you would like to explore your options in more detail and discuss what we can do to help you make a decision on which school might be the best fit for your child, feel free to book a free consultation by CLICKING HERE or by emailing us at info@huntbridge.co.uk. We would be delighted to help.
