Vocational education going regional in North Macedonia
Over 60 participants from North Macedonia attended an event organised by the ETF in Skopje, 9 July, focusing on the establishment of Regional Vocational Centres, a key objective of the country’s Education Strategy 2018 -2025.
Participants discussed ways to improve cooperation with employers and additional provision of work-based placements, and to enhance school capacity to provide learner focused vocational education programmes – particularly for those with special educational needs. Regional Vocational Centres can also meet adult education needs by providing short training programmes; support schools with resources, and continuing professional development of teachers and trainers.
Opening the event, Dr Arber Ademi of the Minister of Education and Science acknowledged the ETF’s commitment to stakeholder engagement for institutional vocational education reform and the role of inclusive, multi-cultural schools to ensure quality and relevance to the labour market and regional competitiveness.
ETF presented two analyses on the Polog, South Western and North Eastern regions. The studies examined: the vocational education offer and how to enhance relevance and quality by optimising networks; and socio-economic developments and medium to long-term skills demand, respectively.
Background
Regional Vocational Centres are a feature of the new Sector Reform Performance Contact (SRPC) agreed by the EU Delegation to North Macedonia and the North Macedonian government. By contributing to innovation, they offer support to educational reform, potentially acting as multipliers for the vocational education schools’ network and adult education providers. The EU and ETF provide expertise and financial support enabling Macedonian decision makers to drive forward the reform agenda.
More Information
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