In a significant step toward improving the learning environment and promoting inclusive education, the Ministry of Education and Science in collaboration with the Council of Europe has finalised a list of 25 pilot schools for the upcoming project activities. The selection process, based on specifically designed criteria including school practices, regional balance, diversity, and addressing discrimination, aimed to identify educational institutions that would pave the way for positive change in the education system.
The selected pilot schools are 13 primary schools, three of which were recognised for their exemplary practices, along with 12 general and vocational secondary schools, two of which demonstrated exceptional approaches.
To ensure regional balance and representation of diverse student populations, the selected pilot schools encompass a wide range of locations and cater to various ethnic backgrounds. The inclusion of schools that have previously faced discrimination further emphasises the project's commitment to promoting equality and inclusivity in education.
With the final list now established, the next steps in the project implementation will be to support 25 pilot schools to engage with local communities and the civil society organisations to create an inclusive and enabling learning environment for all students and support teachers to develop new professional competences, practices and attitudes that better contribute to the development of competences for democratic culture in learners.
The pilot schools will become a part of a national network of democratic and inclusive schools which will function as a community of practice and peer exchange. In each pilot school, the project will work with school integration teams to implement the model of democratic and inclusive school governance together with support from civil society organisations.
This innovative education project, driven by collaboration between the Ministry of Education and CoE experts, promises to bring positive change to the educational landscape by fostering inclusive environments and encouraging best practices among pilot schools. The efforts made in these initial stages set the foundation for a brighter and more equitable future for students across the country.
The project, "Quality Education for All - North Macedonia," is implemented by the Council of Europe and funded by Germany, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of North Macedonia. The project will run from December 2022 to November 2025.
