The History of education in Albania includes the cultural, civilizational, and educational thought of the Albanian populace at large. While authentic scientific inquiry into the history of education and Albanian educational philosophy emerged comparatively late, Albanian researchers have made noteworthy contributions. Studies and monographs conducted by these scholars, particularly those undertaken in the latter half of the 20th century through the early 21st century, have illuminated a range of facets pertaining to this subject.
Antiquity
The history of Albanian education can be traced back to the ancient Illyrian period. This phenomenon is inextricably linked to the evolution of urbanization and the proliferation of civilized societies in Illyrian regions, particularly during the period spanning from the 7th to the 6th centuries BC. The Illyrian culture and Greek ancient culture are recognized as pivotal in shaping the cultural foundation of European civilization.
To the Illyrians as well as to other ancient peoples, the main centers of organized activity became organized cities in the form of provincial communities known as koinons. Archaeological research proves the existence of the gymnasium in the Greek colony of Apollonia since the end of the 6th century BC. Later, gymnasiums and other educational institutions were opened in cities such as Amantia, Byllis, Durrës, Epidaurum, Nikaia, Historical evidence speaks of the Hellenistic School of Apollonia, in which in 44 Julius Caesar's nephew, Octavian Augustus, was also a student, probably because in this educational institution taught prominent scholars of the time.Qafëzezi, Ilo-Mitkë (1936) Dhaskal Gjoka ose shkolla korçare e qëmoçme. Qafëzezi, Korçë, p.84 The school of Apollonia was a philosophical-rhetorical school in which students learned knowledge from fields such as philosophy, oratory (rhetoric), literature and language. The ancient Greek geographer and historian Strabo in his work Geographica describes it as "a city with good laws" (polis eunomotate).Strabo. Geographica, 7.8.316 . Even the Roman orator Cicero, who had visited these areas in 58 in his work Philipicae, described Apollonia as a "great and majestic city" () with a school of philosophy and oratory. The existence of libraries and stadiums has been proven in some Illyrian cities. In different historical periods, Greek and Roman educational institutions functioned in Illyria in which the children of the rich Illyrian strata attended classes.
Middle Ages In the early Middle Ages, prior to the Ottoman occupation, education in Albanian territories was largely influenced by the Church, specifically the Catholic Church in the northern regions and the Orthodox Church in the southern regions. It can be inferred that the Church had a predominant position in disseminating knowledge and nurturing intellectual growth during that time. In Catholic schools, the predominant language of culture and education was Latin-Italian, whereas in Orthodox schools, the languages of Greek and Slavic were commonly employed. The Albanian language did not have any educational institutions at the time. Albanian was not traditionally considered as a language commonly utilized for liturgical or cultural purposes.
The genesis of Albanian education can be traced back to the earliest iterations of the Albanian language's alphabetic systems and their acquisition and application in social and educational contexts. Scholarly accounts posit that the earliest recorded instances of written Albanian surfaced during the 12th century, at a time when Albanian principalities were prevalent, with the language's literary tradition gaining traction in the 15th century due to the growing influence of Albanian feudalists and the establishment of the University of Durrës (studium generale).
The utilization of foreign alphabets for the purposes of reading and writing in the Albanian language was initiated within religious schools where emphasis was placed on the study of foreign languages, namely Greek and Latin. Furthermore, such practices were necessitated by catholic and orthodox priests in the church during the XVI-XVII century. The inception of written Albanian language can be traced back to the fifteenth century, with the earliest known document being recorded during this period. However, it was not until 1555 that the first Albanian book, namely "Meshari" (Missal), made an appearance in the literary world. This seminal work was translated by Gjon Buzuku, signifying a significant milestone on the Albanian literary landscape.
Ottoman period
The advent of Ottoman occupation in the fifteenth century resulted in notable transformations in the religious, cultural, and educational landscapes of the Albanian populace. The Ottoman Empire founded educational institutions known as "maytaps" for the primary education of Muslim students, and "medresses" for the higher education of Muslim students. Schools provided education to Albanians who practised the Islamic faith. Several individuals achieved recognition as eminent academics within the Ottoman Empire's secondary education institutions, known as medresses. The Albanian Catholic humanists pursued their educational and scientific ventures overseas, primarily in Italian universities. Some of their notable members, including Marin Barleti (Barletius) and Nikollë Leonik Tomeu (Thomeaus), achieved distinguished recognition within the European education and cultural sphere.Catholics of Albania (Word document)
During the Ottoman invasion of Albania, many Albanians migrated out of the area to escape either various socio-political and economic difficulties. Among them, the medieval painters Marco Basaiti and Viktor Karpaçi, sculptor and architect Andrea Nikollë Aleksi and art collector Alessandro Albani. Those who resided in the Venetian Empire established the Scuola degli Albanesi that served as a cultural and social center for Albanians.
17th–18th century During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, there was a revitalization of both the economic and cultural domains. The sensation of a resurgence in Albanian ethnic identity occurred. During this period, the Pashalik of Shkodra and the Pashalik of Janina embarked on a mission to regenerate Albanian identity and pursue independence from the Ottoman Empire by emulating the prevailing European notions of civilization. This marked the inception of Albanian Enlightenment. A concerted effort was made to safeguard the Catholic and Orthodox faith, indigenous culture, and local heritage via a series of measures including the establishment of councils, educational institutions, translation of religious and secular texts, as well as the creation of original works in the Albanian language, such as the Albanian Monastery (Lezhë, Albania, 1703), and the Albanian College (Kalabria, Italy, 1732). The New Academy of Voskopoja, located in Albania in 1750, holds a position of notable significance despite the employment of Greek as the medium of instruction. Albanians who identified themselves as Muslims were deprived of their entitlement to receive education in their native language. However, numerous intellectuals demonstrated a strong sense of pride in their ethnic heritage. The individuals in question received their education within Ottoman educational institutions, wherein the utilization of Albanian language (composed in Arabic script) came to fruition during the 18th century. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Albanian educational ideology made significant progress, particularly with the publication of "Çeta e profetëve" (Cuneus Prophetarum) by Pjetër Bogdani in 1685, as well as the introduction of European educational practices facilitated by The New Academy of Voskopoja. The town of Voskopoja was noted for its notable contributions in the realm of intellectualism, particularly in the area of scientific inquiry, culture and education, such as Theodor Kavalioti (Kavalliotos), Theodhor Haxhifilipi etc.
The educational institutions of Catholic, Greek-Orthodox, and Ottoman affiliations within which Albanian youth received instruction, played a significant role in shaping the cultural and educational advancement of the Albanian populace. Within these academic institutions, prominent intellectuals and scholars of the Albanian National Renaissance were established, dedicating their efforts towards the advancement and preservation of the Albanian language and educational system. Within these academic institutions, Albanian educators began to teach the Albanian language surreptitiously to their pupils. They played a pivotal role in paving the way for the emergence of the national education system and the establishment of schools.
National Renaissance
During the National Renaissance era, the Albanian people and intellectuals exhibited robust efforts towards the establishment and development of an Albanian national school, despite encountering various challenges and making countless sacrifices. This movement was spearheaded by prominent individuals such as Naum Veqilharxhi, who authored the first national ABC book in 1844, Jeronim de Rada, the first national teacher, and figures like Naim and Sami Frashëri, Hasan Tahsini, Pashko Vasa, and Kostandin Kristoforidhi among others. As pioneers and architects of the Albanian national educational system. The democratic illuminism espoused by the Renaissance figures was underpinned by the momentous concept of Albanianism, which, in turn, was founded on the Albanian school and the Albanian language as a medium for both instruction and learning, in addition to the promotion of national education. This event summoned a congregation of distinguished scholars and religious leaders with varying faith affiliations from across the nation. The Albanian League of Prizren petitioned for the acknowledgment of the Albanian language and the establishment of Albanian educational institutions. In the year 1879, a group of renowned Renaissance figures established the Society for the Printing of Albanian Letters in Istanbul, and established branch offices in various locations. Various associations and organizations held a significant position in the Albanian educational realm, as evidenced by their regular coverage in nationally circulated newspapers. In an effort to establish a standardized national alphabet, the individuals in question published various articles and magazines written in the Albanian language. Additionally, they published a notable work entitled "The ABC Book of the Albanian Language" which aimed to introduce the Albanian alphabet, particularly drawing from the Alphabet of Istanbul.