Education in Northern Macedonia

At the beginning of the 19th century, the only centers of Slavic literature and culture in the territory of modern Northern Macedonia were several schools attached to churches and monasteries that trained priests. With the development of trade and craft affairs, it became necessary to create educational institutions of a secular nature, the graduates of which could work for the good. The opening of the first secular schools in the Bulgarian (as it was called then) language was hampered by the clash of interests of the Hellas and Bulgarian Orthodox churches. On the territory of modern Northern Macedonia, the patriarchy of the Greek Church had at its disposal a school education system, where teaching was conducted in Greek, and students were brought up in Greek culture.

Slavic enlighteners fought for the right to teach subjects not in Greek, but in their native language. Teachers who received education in Greece, but gradually switched to Bulgarian in the process of receiving education, played a major role in obtaining this right. Until the middle of the XIX century, the Slavonic inhabitants of Ottoman Macedonia tried to abandon the Greek language of teaching, while maintaining the Greek style of teaching. In the 1830s, the first secular Slavic-speaking schools and colleges began to be established at churches on the territory of modern Northern Macedonia. They appeared in large cities:

• Skopje (1835–1836)
• Veles (1837)
• Bansko (1838)
• Shtip (1840)
• Nevrokop (1840)
• Prilep (1843)
• Kumanovo (1852)
• Tetovo (1852)

In these schools secular subjects and sciences were taught. A significant role in the development of education in his native language was played by Yordan Hadzhikonstantinov , enlightener from Veles.

In the 20th century, after the accession of the territory of today's Northern Macedonia to Yugoslavia, gradual teaching in Serbian began. In connection with the conflict of interests of Bulgaria and Yugoslavia, the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization , which fought for the withdrawal of Macedonia from Yugoslavia with the potential accession to Bulgaria, engaged in the promotion and dissemination of education in the Bulgarian language, considering the Macedonian only as a dialect of the Bulgarian language. After World War II, Bulgaria abandoned claims to Yugoslav Macedonia, and education in the Serbian and Macedonian languages ​​began to develop in the Socialist Republic of Macedonia.

In 1949, the University of Skopje was opened by the Yugoslav authorities (now the University of Saints Cyril and Methodius), in 1979 - the University of Bitolska (since 1994 it has been named after St. Clement of Ohrid). Already in the 1990s and 2000s, three more state universities were opened: Tetov State University (1994), Shtip University Goce Delcheva (2007) and Ohrid University of Information Sciences and Technology (2009). Currently, the Republic of Macedonia is part of the network of Balkan universities, whose students are trained in exchange, and scientists are actively cooperating in various fields of science.

The Constitution of Northern Macedonia provides free and compulsory primary and secondary education in the country. The Law "On Primary School Education" provides that children aged 7 to 15 must attend school for education, and the Law "On Secondary School Education" - attend school for three or four years for adolescents from 15 to 19 years ^[1] .

1-3 classes

In the first period of schooling (from 1 to 3 classes of schools) children study for no more than 22 hours per week. The main subjects are Macedonian as a state language, mother tongue (for foreigners - Albanian, Turkish, Serbian, etc.) and mathematics. Preschool teachers can teach children under the age of 6 on their own, and flexible work hours allow children to freely communicate and move around the classroom. For children from the Gypsy, Wlalah or Bosniak people, it is envisaged to study their native language and culture in the 3rd grade. At the end of grade 3, children take exams in their native language and math in the form of a test. The results as a whole do not affect the final grades of schoolchildren, but are used by parents and teachers in the future for the correct approach in education and upbringing.

Grades 4-6

In the second period of schooling (from 4 to 6 classes of schools) children study for no more than 27 hours a week. The number of teachers is increasing, they themselves evaluate the knowledge of students in each specific job. At the end of the school year, students are given a report with grades. Schoolchildren from Gypsy, Wlach, or Bosnian families are offered an in-depth study of the language, culture, and history of their people from grades 4 to 6.

In the 4th and 5th grades, new subjects are introduced for students, including the study of various natural sciences, religion and ethics, as well as several languages ​​of choice (in addition to general foreign, Albanian, Turkish or Serbian can be studied). As before, at the end of training, students take exams in languages ​​and in mathematics in the form of a test. The results as a whole do not affect the final grades of schoolchildren, but are used by parents and teachers in the future for the correct approach in education and upbringing.

Grades 7-9

In the third period of schooling (from grades 7 to 9), children study for a maximum of 31 hours per week. Each subject has its own school teacher, the number of subjects increases. In accordance with the needs and interests of students, elective subjects may be offered: the school undertakes to offer at least three subjects. The student, if he wants to choose something, can take one or two items. Particularly distinguished students with excellent grades in subjects study subjects in depth in separate classes. At the end of grade 9, schoolchildren take exams in their native language (Macedonian, Albanian, Serbian or Turkish), mathematics and a foreign language (if the Minister of Education decides, they can pass one more elective exam). The results as a whole do not affect the final grades of schoolchildren, but are used by parents and teachers in the future for the correct approach in education and upbringing.

In elementary school, science is studied in the framework of common, collective subjects - “Environment”, “Natural Sciences and Technologies”, “Society”, etc. Also required are computer courses for children: the use of modern information technology is a requirement for each school.

Required items are:

• Macedonian language
• mother tongue (Albanian, Turkish, Serbian)
• maths
• English
• second foreign language
• art
• music
• knowledge of the environment
• technical disciplines
• computer science
• geography
• story
• Social Studies
• civil law
• physical Culture and sport
• science and technology
• biology
• chemistry
• physics
• life safety
• basic medical training

Optional disciplines are the language and culture of the Vlachs, the Gypsies or the Bosniaks, the foundations of world religions and ethics. Also, children can study Albanian in depth, home economics, ecology, the country's local history, folk dances; to engage in labor training, create music, technical, informatics and art projects; study a healthy lifestyle, classical culture in European civilization and engage in professional sports.

At the age of 18-19 years, boys and girls go to universities. Students study there for four years under a bachelor degree program (North Macedonia is a member of the Bologna education system). Having received a bachelor's degree, they can optionally continue their studies already up to the master's level (2-year course) in their specialty.

Largest public universities

• Skopje : University of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Skopje
• Ohrid : University of Information Sciences and Technology named after St. Paul
• Bitola : University of St. Clement of Ohrid in Bitola
• Shtip : Goce Delchev University
• Tetovo : Tetovo State University

Private universities

• Southeast European University
• International University Struga
• International Balkan University
• International Summer University
• European University in the Republic of Macedonia
• University VON
• American University College Skopje
• New York University (Skopje)

• Aim, AJIL, Vol. 93. no 1. 1999.

• IDIVIDI forum. Written by, seminar ( maced .)