History

       “Memorial International School of Tirana” (MIST) has been opened in the 2001 under the permission of Albanian Government by “Turgut Ozal Education Company” to meet the international education need in Albania.

        Starting from its foundation MIST strives to complete CIS membership procedures. In 2001 MIST has started processes of CIS accreditation from position of Prospective Membership. After taking a very successful Preliminary Visit by CIS Accreditation Officers MIST became a ''Regular Member of CIS''. MIST continues processes for the ''Full Accredited School'' position.

        MIST has started education in its well equipped building in Rr. Elbasanit Tre Vellezerit Kondi. Then at the beginning of 2005-06 Academic Year MIST has moved to its new building which is known as Ish Shkola Partise in Rr. Durres.

       MIST provides a safe and caring learning environment where students are challenged to make use of their potentials and integrate into a multicultural world community and continues to serve for international education with qualified teaching staff in its modern and well equipped school building

Mission Statement

We endeavor to provide a safe and caring learning environment where students are challenged to make use of their potentials and integrate into a multicultural world community.

MIST sets a good example of educational excellence.

 We aim:

·             To provide the best curriculum, faculty, learning facilities and environment for our students to acquire their highest potentials at MIST.

·             To give every student access to coherent English- type international curriculum.

·             To prepare our students for a life-long learning, equipped with skills and adaptability to cope confidently in a rabidly changing world.

·             To promote high standards of behavior and to foster caring, tolerant, supportive and respectful relationships between all members of our international school community.

·             To strive to attain the highest standards of international education in order that students respond to challenge and integrate into a multicultural world community. 

·             To provide a broad based curriculum which emphasizes strong academic and creative expressions and which facilitates entry to schools with similar program.

·             To recruit and retain suitably qualified, experienced and highly capable teachers.

·             To develop an understanding and appreciation of diversity of cultures within our community.

·             To build respect for people from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds.

·             To prepare our students to grow up with self – confidence, self – discipline and high ethical standards – ready to communicate and operate within today’s global community. 

Finally we distill all this down to a short motto that really tells what MIST is: the right school where “students come first”

Vision Statement

"The first choice for international education in Albania"

Philosophy

We believe …                                                                                                                                         

• that each child has a unique talent and potential, so we encourage each child to explore his/her talent and help to bring out the best in them.
• in dignity and worth of our school community and recognize the importance of our mutual responsibilities to each other and to others in the world community.
• that knowledge is acquired through a constructive process; and therefore our curriculum should emphasize experimental learning at all levels.
• that education in an international school with o community of diverse cultural and religious backgrounds should provide and promote understanding and appreciation of all creeds and cultures.
• that education should be student centered and is a partnership among students, teachers, parents and broader community.
• in measuring our value as human beings by our humanity towards others. Goodness, generosity, tolerance and honesty can not be forced or ordered. They can function only by being modeled upon. MIST is the embodiment of all good features and qualities.

Students’ and Parents’ profile

    There are about 160 students in the classes from Kindergarten to Year 12 at MIST.

    We are going to have our first graduates at the end of 2008-09 Academic Year.

    We have students from 19 different nationalities.

    All the students built a good friendship among each other.

    A big majority of the Albanian parents are businessmen, of the foreigner parents are businessmen, teachers and staff of embassies or other international organizations.

Accreditation

    MIST is accredited by Ministry of Education of Albania and has a license for Kindergarten, Primary (Year 1- Year 9) and Secondary (Year 10 - Year 12) Schools.

    MIST is Regular Member of CIS (Council of International Schools).

    Starting from its foundation MIST strives to complete CIS membership procedures.

    In 2001 MIST has started processes of CIS accreditation from position of Prospective Membership.

    After taking a very successful ''Preliminary Visit'' by CIS Accreditation Officer Mrs. Margaret Alvarez in May 2005, MIST became a ''Regular Member'' of CIS and started ''Self Study'' for the CIS accreditation.

    In November 2007, CIS Accreditation Officer Mr. John Heard visited the MIST to review the accreditation process. He has suggested February 2009 as the date for completion of the ''Self Study'' and April 2009 for the ''CIS Team Visit'' date.

    All members of the MIST; administrators, teachers, parents, students and workers, continue to work altogether to improve MIST through the process of accreditation and to become a ’’Fully Accredited School''.