Practical Skills in Pre-University Education in Albania: The Challenge for an Effective and Contemporary Education
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2025.2.843.857Słowa kluczowe:
pre-university education, practical skills, educational curriculum, social development, labour marketAbstrakt
Aim. This article aims to examine the importance of including practical skills in the pre-university curriculum and their impact on individual and social development. Pre-university education in Albania has been and continues to be mainly focused on theoretical subjects, overshadowing the acquisition of practical skills that are necessary for a pupil’s personal and professional development, especially nowadays. The article analyses the current challenges that prevent practical skills integration, such as the lack of adequate infrastructure, insufficient training of teachers about the integration of practice during the learning process and the disconnection of the educational system from the real-professional world and the rapid pace of social change.
Methods. To achieve the goal, the article raises 3 research questions, which are answered by combining the review of contemporary literature, the quantitative and qualitative methods, and by combining primary and secondary data, obtained from the analysis of the questionnaires, and the comparison with the positive examples in the region and beyond. The questionnaires distributed electronically were completed by pupils and teachers of 161 schools in 4 Regional Directorates of Pre-University Education.
Results. Results emphasise that the inclusion of these skills has the great potential to significantly improve the better preparation of pupils for the labour market and to contribute to the improvement of quality education in Albania.
Conclusion. In the end, the article highlights the importance of this integration in building a more united and stronger society for the future.
Pobrania
Bibliografia
Agjencia e Sigurimit të Cilësisë së Arsimit Parauniversitar (ASCAP). (2024). Udhëzuesi për mësuesin koordinator të sigurimit të cilësisë [Guide for the teacher coordinator of quality assurance]. Tiranë. https://www.ascap.edu.al/udhezuesi-per-koordiantorin-e-sigurimit-te-cilesise/
Bandura, A. (2020). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. W.H. Freeman.
Chernous, T., Handzilevska, H., Balashov, E., & Ratinska, O. (2024). Development of emotional competence through music and movement: Comparative analysis of the professional educational programs of prospective primary school teachers in Ukraine and Austria. Journal of Education Culture and Society, 15(2), 665-682. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2024.2.665.682
Einarsdottir, S., Thomsen, R., Hansen, J. D., Berg, E., Ruusuvirta-Uuksulainen, O., Jensen, I., & Kjærgaard, R. (2023). Career education in the Nordic countries: A comparison of national legislation and compulsory school curricula. Nordic Journal of Transitions, Careers and Guidance, 4(1), 97–112. https://doi.org/10.16993/njtcg.64
Einarsdottir, T., Kettunen, J., & Toni, A. (2023). A comparison of national legislation and compulsory school curricula. Nordic Journal of Transitions, Careers and Guidance, 4(1), 97-112. https://njtcg.org/articles/64/files/656498cd941fb.pdf
Fiľa, M., Tóthová, V., Gulacsi, L, Al-Adwan, A. S., & Králik, R. (2024). Influence of external and internal factors on human direction. Acta Missiologica, 18(2), 231-241.
Finnish National Agency for Education. (2016). National core curriculum for basic education 2014. https://www.oph.fi/en/statistics-and-publications/publications/new-national-core-curriculum-basic-education-focus-school
García Martín, J., Rojas Morales, A., & Králik, R. (2025). Kierkegaard and Modernity: Truth and Decision. Ethics and Bioethics (in Central Europe), 15(1-2), 1-11.
Gega, O., & Petro, M. (2023). The role and responsibilities of the special education teacher in Albanian pre-university education: A case study in the county of Durres. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 13(3), 191-208. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2023-0069
Gusho, L., Muçaj, A., Petro, M., & Vampa, M. . (2023). The use of educational technology to improve the quality of learning and teaching: A systematic research review and new perspectives. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 18(15), 109–119. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v18i15.39641
https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1151641
Johnson, D.W., Johnson, R.T., & Holubec, E.J. (2020). Cooperative learning in the classroom: Putting it into practice. ASCD. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446213971
Kiri. L., & Osmani. S. (2024). Key competencies and examples of their development in humanities subjects in Albanian pre-university education. (2024). Journal of Educational and Social Research, 14(5), 250-259. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2024-0136
Kondrla, P., Lojan, R., Maturkanič, P., Nickolaeva Biryukova, Y., & González Mastrapa, E. (2023). The Philosophical Context of Curriculum Innovations with a Focus on Competence Development. Journal of Education Culture and Society, 14(2), 78-92. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2023.2.78.92
Leka, K., & Beshiri, D. (2024). School leaders’ and teachers’ perceptions of the feedback and evaluation system in Albania. International Journal of Education and Practice, 12(3), 1054-1067.
Ministria e Arsimit dhe Sportit. (2014). Korniza Kurrikulare e arsimit parauniversitar të Republikës së Shqipërisë [Curricular Framework of Preuniversity Education of Albania]. Tirana, 15-20. https://www.ascap.edu.al/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Korniza-Kurrikulare-31.07.2014.pdf
Muho, A. ., Gokaj, R., Grillo Mukli, H., & Lutaj, L. (2024). Educators’ perspectives on grade inflation, motivational grading, and emotional responses. Journal of Education Culture and Society, 15(2), 223-236. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2024.2.223.236
Muho, A., & Leka, K. (2021). Pupils’ perceptions of portfolio as a motivating factor in learning English as a foreign language. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 11(6), 47-56. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2021-0127
Oliveira, H., & Bonito, J. (2023). Practical work in science education: a systematic literature review. Frontiers in Education, 8, Article 1151641.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2020). Curriculum Overload: A Way Forward. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/3081ceca-en
Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (2021). Framework for 21st century learning. https://www.battelleforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/P21_Framework_Brief.pdf
Petrovic, F., Guttesen, K., Murgas, F., & Kralik, R. (2024). The impact of anxiety and depression on the quality of life of the university students: the Slovak experience. Clinical Social Work and Health Intervention, 15(6), 54-74.
Piaget, J. (2018). The construction of reality in the child (M. Cook, Trans.). Routledge. (Original work published 1954)
Roseni, E., & Muho, A. (2024). Impact of Gamification and Interactive Language Learning Platforms on Engagement and Proficiency in English Language Education. Journal of Education Culture and Society, 15(2), 205-222. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2024.2.205.222
Tkacova, H. & Pavlikova, M. (2024). Youth and their Current Concerns – Social Work and Media as Tools of Intervention, Clinical Social Work and Health Intervention, 15(6), 96-109.
Uyen, B. P., Tong, D. H., & Han, N. N. (2021). Enhancing problem-solving skills of 8th-grade students in learning the first-degree equations in one unknown. International Journal of Education and Practice, 9(3), 568–587. https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.61.2021.93.568.587
Xhaferri, M.., & Tase, M. (2024). The Influence of Ottoman Culture on the Way of life of Albanian Society. Journal of Education Culture and Society, 15(1), 557-566. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2024.1.557.566
Yusof, W. R. W., Kimi, M., Zullkiplee, W. S. H. W., Zailani, M. A., Shahabudin, M., Ismail, A. A. H., Abdullah, S. M. a. A., Ismail, I. N. A., & Gopal, D. J. R. (2022). Assessment of practical and scientific writing skills for pre-university pupils through project-based learning. Journal of Chemical Education, 99(2), 715-722. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00843
Zenelaga, B., Goga, A., & Králik, R. (2024). Inclusive Universities. Exploring the well-being of university students with special needs in Albania. Journal of Education Culture and Society, 15(2), 373-386. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2024.2.373.386
Zhang, L. & Ma, Y. (2023). A study of the impact of project-based learning on student learning effects: A meta-analysis study. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1202728. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1202728
Pobrania
Opublikowane
Numer
Dział
Licencja
Prawa autorskie (c) 2025 Menada Petro, Ilir Sallata, Gianluca Senatore, Yulia Nickolaevna Biryukova

Utwór dostępny jest na licencji Creative Commons Uznanie autorstwa 4.0 Międzynarodowe.
CC-BY
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal. All authors agree for publishing their email adresses, affiliations and short bio statements with their articles during the submission process.