TIRANA, June 30 /ATA/ The Ministry of Education and Sports set up a working meeting with education experts to discuss the new curriculum framework and the need to bring it up to speed with European standards, technological advancements, and future challenges.
At the meeting, Minister of Education and Sports Ogerta Manastirliu emphasized that review of the curriculum framework is a critical process closely tied to the country’s strategic objective of EU accession, alongside the necessity of delivering quality and practical education to all students.
“Based on our analysis, closely linked to practical experience, we have assessed what has worked well, what needs improvement, and how we compare to the European countries we aspire to join by 2030. We have identified the standards that require enhancement, the competencies that should be emphasized more in our curricula, and the approach we need to take towards different subjects regarding the balance between theory, practice, and experimental foundations where applicable. We also considered how to foster critical thinking, improve team work, encourage imagination and creativity, and advance life-long professional development for teachers,” Manastirliu stated.
She emphasized the need for a new approach to curricula, with particular focus on STEM subjects and the balance between theory and practice, including laboratories as an integral part of the teaching process.
“Currently, our schools comply with European standards regarding infrastructure. We are committed to the ongoing expansion of the smart laboratories network within educational institutions. At present, there are approximately 340 smart laboratories and 25 artificial intelligence laboratories operational in schools. Over the next two years, an additional 654 smart laboratories will be established nationwide, facilitating the comprehensive implementation of the Technology and Information curriculum, alongside the coding program commencing from the first grade, as well as the broader curriculum revision for all students. Presently, these initiatives serve approximately 35,000 students across first, second, and third grades. Substantial progress has also been achieved in developing science laboratories—including chemistry, biology, and physics—in pre-university education institutions, which have been equipped with essential didactic materials and apparatus to enhance the practical nature of instruction,” Minister Manastirliu emphasized.
“Year 2024 has been a milestone for us, firstly because we completed the improved curriculum framework document, and secondly because we implemented a broad professional development program for teachers, which, for the first time, included public universities and our lecturers in the training and professional education of our teachers,” the Minister stated.
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