Over the past four years, 104 schools have been closed, reducing both the number of schools and students by 14%

Between 2020 and 2024, 10% of nine-year public schools in Albania were closed, while the number of students in this education cycle fell by 14% over the same period. In 2024, there were 1,127 nine-year schools nationwide, 104 fewer than in 2020. INSTAT data by county show that Kukës leads the country with a 22% closure rate of nine-year schools, followed by Gjirokastër and Korçë at 16% and 15%, respectively.

The trend is also pronounced in Lezhë, Shkodër, and Elbasan counties, with closures around 14%. On the other hand, Tirana remains the most stable area, where the number of nine-year schools increased by three from 2020 to 2024, reflecting demographic growth and population concentration in the capital. Vlorë shows a low closure rate of 5.3%, while Durrës maintained the same number of schools in 2024 as in 2020.

During 2020–2024, the number of students in nine-year education fell by 36,800, a 14.2% decrease.

Fier and Elbasan are among the most affected counties by student numbers, with fewer than 10,000 students combined. Korçë and Dibër also report significant declines, each losing over 3,000 students. Kukës, one of the counties with the highest emigration, lost more than 1,400 students and 12 schools in just four years. In percentage terms, the largest declines were in Dibër (28.6%), Berat (25.7%), and Fier (24%).

Even Tirana saw a decrease of about 3,000 students in 2024 compared to 2020, a 3.5% drop. Overall, the school network has contracted, and student numbers have declined. Meanwhile, the number of teachers increased by over 2,100, reflecting staff reorganization and the transfer of human resources to urban areas.

While the number of schools and students has dropped sharply over the past four years, education spending has increased. However, higher spending per student has not translated into improved quality, as global PISA tests for 15-year-olds in Albania have shown a significant decline in knowledge between 2018 and 2022.

“KORÇA BOOM”