High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The education system in Albania is secular. The literacy rate for the total population, age 9 or older, is about 94%. Elementary education is compulsory (grades 1 9), but most students continue at least until a secondary education (grades 10 12). Students must successfully pass graduation exams at the end of the 9th grade and at the end of the 12th grade in order to continue their education. There are about 5000, mostly public, schools throughout the country and the academic year is divided into two semesters. The school year begins in September and finishes in late May or early June.