arsimi

Arsimi, the Albanian term for education, denotes the systematic process through which individuals acquire knowledge, skills, values, and habits. It encompasses formal schooling, non-formal instruction, and informal learning, and is widely viewed as a lifelong process. The term is used across Albanian-speaking communities, including Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and the Albanian diaspora, to refer to education in its broad sense.

Formal education generally follows a structured sequence: early childhood or pre-primary education, primary education, secondary education, and, for many, tertiary or higher education. Vocational training and applied programs provide alternative paths for skilled work. Non-formal education includes adult education, literacy campaigns, and continuing professional development outside traditional schools, while informal learning occurs in daily life, work, and community activities.

Governance of arsimi typically rests with a national ministry or department of education, which designs curricula, sets teacher qualifications, and administers assessments and accreditation. Public funding, private institutions, and international development programs shape access and quality. Curricula increasingly emphasize foundational skills—reading, writing, numeracy—alongside digital literacy, critical thinking, and civic education, with attention to inclusion and equity.

Globally, arsimi is central to development goals, workforce formation, and social mobility. Reforms in Albanian-speaking regions have focused on modernization of curricula, teacher training, and school infrastructure, while preserving cultural and linguistic diversity within education.