Minister Kumbaro Announces Completion of Preparations for the 2026 State Matura Exams as Work Begins on a New Pre-University Education Strategy

The Ministry of Education has completed preparations for the 2026 State Matura examinations, and work on the new National Pre-University Education Strategy 2027-2032, which will guide the development of the education system in accordance with national priorities and Albania’s European integration process, will begin on June 1. In this regard, Chapters 25, “Science and Research,” and 26, “Education and Culture,” led by the Ministry of Education, are among the first chapters likely to be completed in Albania’s EU membership talks.
Mirela Kumbaro, Minister of Education, said at a news conference that the first State Matura exam, the foreign language test, will be held on June 2, with the following tests taking place on June 9, 16, and 23.
Preparations for the Matura procedure began in December 2025, with the adoption of a new regulation and the online release of exam models. An important component of the procedure has been the staging of mock exams under identical conditions to the actual tests, with the goal of familiarizing pupils with the exam format and boosting their emotional readiness. 144 examination centers have been constructed across the country, with more than 170 Ministry of Education monitors on the ground to oversee the process.
The Ministry has tightened Matura laws since last year, establishing clearer obligations and consequences for all parties participating in exam administration. At the same time, awareness campaigns continue to inform graduating students about examination rules, with electronic devices, including mobile phones and smartwatches, remaining strictly prohibited. Any violation of these rules will result in immediate disqualification from the exam.
Alongside the Matura process, the Ministry of Education continues piloting the “After School” program, which is currently implemented in 45 schools in Tirana and two schools in Kamëz. The program offers homework assistance as well as art, music, theater, dance, and crafts groups for students in grades 1-5. In Tirana, 308 teachers and 4,500 pupils participate, whereas in Kamëz, the program has 17 teachers and 240 students. The Ministry is also developing a legal framework that will allow municipalities to invest in school cafeterias as the initiative gradually expands.
Meanwhile, the “Arts and Crafts” program is still in operation in 300 schools across the country, while school sports activities have involved over 10,000 kids in volleyball and basketball across 274 schools in all 12 regions. For the first time, chess has also been included in the program, with 670 students participating, while table tennis is planned to be added next year.
Another top priority is the creation of the new National Pre-University Education Strategy 2027-2032, which will be prepared in collaboration with UNICEF and with the participation of institutions, instructors, students, development partners, and civil society. The plan intends to address upcoming concerns such as technological change, artificial intelligence, improving fundamental learning, and building ties between education, employment, and well-being, all while putting students at the center of the educational process.
In parallel, the Ministry continues its teacher professional development program, which will provide training to over 20,000 teachers through the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Pre-University Education in collaboration with nine public universities.
Regarding higher education, Minister Kumbaro stated that the review of the higher education law is ongoing through consultations with universities and experts, with the goal of adapting the system to technological developments, the challenges of the European labor market, and the internationalization process. A significant focus continues on university specialization and profiling to boost competitiveness and better match academic programs with labor market needs and Albania’s 2030 development goals.