|
Vol.15, No.2, May 2026. ISSN: 2217-8309 eISSN: 2217-8333
TEM Journal
TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION, MANAGEMENT, INFORMATICS Association for Information Communication Technology Education and Science |
Shared Curriculum - Shared Outcomes? The Parallel Decline in PISA Performance in Kosovo and Albania
Alfons Harizaj, Olgerta Idrizi, Miranda Harizaj
© 2026 Alfons Harizaj, published by UIKTEN. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License. (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
Citation Information: TEM Journal. Volume 15, Issue 2, Pages 1506-1517, ISSN 2217-8309, DOI: 10.18421/TEM152-46, May 2026.
Received: 29 July 2025.
Abstract:
This study investigates the impact of a shared competency-based curriculum reform on student outcomes in Albania and Kosovo, using data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) from 2015 to 2022. Introduced in Kosovo in 2013–2014 and adopted by Albania in 2014–2015, the reform aimed to modernize education and harmonize instructional standards across both systems. However, PISA 2022 results reveal significant declines in mathematics, reading, and science scores in both countries, with Albania experiencing the steepest decline in mathematics among all participating nations. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study triangulates quantitative analysis of PISA data with qualitative content analysis of curriculum documents, national education reports, and stakeholder feedback. Comparative benchmarking with regional peers highlights systemic challenges including insufficient teacher preparation, misaligned assessment practices, and limited instructional resources. Findings suggest that despite a shared curriculum framework, weak implementation fidelity and lack of contextual adaptation contributed to underperformance. The study concludes with evidence-based policy recommendations aimed at strengthening curriculum alignment, enhancing teacher education, improving assessment systems, and addressing infrastructure gaps. These insights offer guidance not only for Albania and Kosovo but also for other countries undertaking similar reforms.
Keywords – Curriculum reform, PISA, teacher training, assessment, education policy. |
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |