TIRANA, May 6 /ATA/ – The Ministry of Education and the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) signed an agreement on Wednesday to establish a National Agency for Educational Services in Albania, aimed at transforming the body responsible for administering national exams into a modern, autonomous institution aligned with international standards.
The signing ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Edi Rama, Education Minister Mirela Kumbaro, AADF board chairman Michael Granoff, and international experts from Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
Education Minister said the initiative marks a shift towards modernising education services in line with the digital era, adding that the current system handles around 158,000 services annually and requires reform to improve efficiency and standards.
She said the new agency, enabled by legislation approved by parliament two weeks ago, would enhance service quality and align operations with international benchmarks, citing the need for greater transparency, traceability and institutional accountability.
Kumbaro also highlighted AADF’s role in supporting education reforms since 2009, including scholarship programmes and institutional development projects.
Cooperation with Cambridge University’s assessment centre has helped analyse system shortcomings, including test quality, data use and exam administration standards.
Planned investments in technology, logistics and security systems are expected to form a core part of the new agency’s infrastructure.
The agreement opens a new phase of cooperation aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, improving processes and boosting the credibility of the assessment system.
A project for the agency’s new 3,500-square-metre premises, designed to meet high international standards for testing and evaluation, was also presented.
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