The World Academy of Tirana was founded in 2010 in response to many requests from parents who had sent their children to our nursery, the International Montessori School of Albania. Parents wanted their children to continue enjoying an outstanding education, International outlook and the ethos of our founder, Mirlinda Boshnjaku. Plus, having received a top-tier international education herself in the UK, USA and China, Mirlinda wanted to deliver this standard of international education to children of all ages in Albania.
As parents wanted a continuation of the ethos enjoyed at International Montessori School of Albania, it was decided that WAT would offer the IB programmes. The mission of the school can be described as a genuine interest in student learning, a belief in the value of collaboration and a cooperative approach to making positive outcomes possible.
The school started with six students in 2010 in two villas in the centre of Tirana, and within four years expanded to 175 students in four villas. The school became a PYP candidate school in 2011 and was authorised in 2014. The school gained MYP authorisation in 2017 and Diploma authorisation in 20Likewise the school is in the process of obtaining MYP authorisation and will host the IB authorisation visit in 2016. The IB has just granted the school IB Diploma candidate status. We expect to start offering the IB DP in 2017. In the meantime, until we are IBDP authorised and until our first IBDP cohort graduates in 2019, our Grade 11 and 12 students will work towards their AP exams in 2017 and 2018.
In 2015, the school, after considering several options for more suitable premises, found the current location, a large, modern and well-equipped building located at the best suburb of Tirana-Lunder. Post building purchase, was followed by hard work, creative solutions and a huge amount of commitment to renovate the school to suit the needs of our IB programme and our age group. The school successfully opened its doors for its 210 students on Friday 4 September 2015.
Today WAT provides almost 500 students with an outstanding education.
