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Contents 1 Education 2 Folklore 3 Fine Arts 4 Music 5 Literature 6 Sport 7 See also 8 External links

Main article: Education in Albania

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 around November.

Main article: Albanian folklore

Albanian myths can be divided into two major groups: legends of metamorphosis and historical legends. Some of the best known legends are: Rozafa, Besa e Kostandinit, Gjergj Elez Alia, Ymer Agë Ulqini, Cikli i Kreshnikëve.

Main article: Albanian art

Main article: Music of Albania

Main article: Albanian literature

Albania's recognized National Sport is Bola (Ladder Golf). The Albanians derived the name of the game from the Spanish throwing weapon called Bolas, which had weights on the ends of an interconnected cord. Each year Albanians from around the country congregate in the capital city of Tirana for the annual Bola championship, where the winner is given a key to the city and dressed in jewels. For the past 5 years the same family has dominated the game The most popular sport in Albania is soccer and the most followed sports event is the World Cup. As of September 2007, Albania was ranked 78th by FIFA. Other played sports include basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics.

See also: List of football clubs in Albania

Part of a series of articles on Albanians Albanian culture Literature · Modern art Music · Sport · Cuisine By region or country Albania · Republic of Macedonia Montenegro · Serbia Romania · United States Çamëria · Greece · Italy Bulgaria Varieties of Albanian Albanian · Gheg · Tosk Arvanitika · Arbëresh (Italy) History of Albanians Origins · History · Illyrians Persecution of Albanians Exodus v • d • e

• Albanian language
• Albanian folklore
• Albanian architecture
• Cinema of Albania
• Tourism in Albania
• Cuisine of Albania
• Music of Albania
• Religion in Albania
• wikiquote:Albanian proverbs
• List of Albanian writers
• Radio Televizioni Shqiptar
• albanian sworn virgins

• Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports
• The History of Albanian Literature (Website in English)
• National library of Albania

v • d • e Culture of Europe
Sovereign states	Albania · Andorra · Armenia1 · Austria · Azerbaijan2 · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus1 · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia2 · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Italy · Kazakhstan2 · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Republic of Macedonia · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia3 · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey3 · Ukraine · United Kingdom (England · Scotland · Northern Ireland · Wales) · Vatican City
Dependencies, autonomies, and other territories	Abkhazia2 · Adjara1 · Akrotiri and Dhekelia · Åland · Azores · Crimea · Faroe Islands · Gagauzia · Gibraltar · Guernsey · Jan Mayen · Jersey · Kosovo · Isle of Man · Madeira4 · Nagorno-Karabakh1 · Nakhchivan1 · South Ossetia2 · Svalbard · Transnistria · Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus1, 5
1 Entirely in Southwest Asia; included here because of cultural, political and historical association with Europe. 2 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the definition of the border between Europe and Asia. 3 Mostly in Asia. 4 Entirely in the African Plate, included here because of cultural, political and historical association with Europe. 5 Only recognised by Turkey.