EducationEducation is one of the focal sectors within the overall policy framework for Dutch development assistance to Macedonia. Examples of previous activities in education that have been supported by the Netherlands Government are:
- rehabilitation of basic school infrastructure;
- capacity building for school parent councils;
- support to the Assessment Unit of the
Ministry of Education and Science and; - support to Albanian language students in their transition from secondary to higher education.
Since 1997, the Netherlands has invested approximately €20 mln. in Macedonian education and thus is one of Macedonia's main partners for development of the sector. Refer to below table for more examples.
In line with the policy priorities of the Netherlands Ministry for Development Co-operation, the Embassy is now increasingly concentrating its efforts on support for structural reform in the education sector, with special priority given to basic education. The Embassy's objectives for support to (basic) education aim at:
- improving the quality and relevance of basic education;
- achieving social justice by providing equal access to basic education for people from disadvantaged groups;
- reducing gender disparities / empowering women through education.
In focusing on the above objectives, the Netherlands will support the Macedonian Government in achieving the Millennium Development Goals related to education. The above objectives are reflected in the Embassy's new strategy and action plan for continued support to the Macedonia education strategy covering the period 2005 - 2008. A prime example of on-going Dutch support for structural reform of the (basic) education sector, is the grant it provided to the Macedonian Government in the amount of €10 million for co-financing of the World Bank Education Modernisation Project.
As regards activities in the field of higher education; these may still be considered as long as they contribute demonstrably to equitable access to higher education and enhanced co-operation between institutes of higher learning in Macedonia.
Main Activities
Title | Description activity goals | Project period |
Education Modernisation Project | Improve the quality of learning and education participation at school level by strengthening school level planning. Capacity building for decentralised education | 2003 – 2009 |
Transition Year Programme phases 1, 2, 3 | Preparatory classes for e/A secondary school students to sit for university entrance examinations | 1997 – 2006 |
International Summer University Macedonia (ISUM) organised by the Academic Training Association (ATA) in co-operation with the Universities of Skopje, Bitola and Tetovo as well as the SouthEastEuropeUniversity | The ISUM will provide students from the above universities quality courses in the field of law, economics/business administration and pedagogy during two to three weeks during the summer break. In addition, the ISUM will provide faculty staff practical training in implementation of the Bologna Action Lines, specifically in regard to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) | 2005 – 2007 |
Equal Opportunities for Roma Students
| The project, implemented by FOSIM, covers three
full school years (2006-7-8) and is implemented in
9 locations and 10 primary schools (2 in Skopje).
1500 students benefit directly from participating in
extra classes: in grades 1-4 primarily in Macedonian
language and mathematics, in grade 5-8 in a maximum
number of 5 subjects / disciplines in which the pupils
at a given school clearly under-perform. Text books
and teaching materials are provided to these children.
Extra classes are given in so-called After School
Support Centres (ASSC) that are equipped for this
purpose.
| 2006-2009
|
Scholarship fund South East Europe
University
| Scholarship fund for students of less privileges
background. The programme is implemented by
HESP/FOSIM. | September 2003 -
December 2009 |
Multi Year Agreement South East
European University | 4 year agreement between the Law faculty of SEEU
and Groningen university in the Netherlands for
postgraduate studies for lecturers at SEEU.
Nuffic is the implementing partner. | 2006-2010 |
Netherlands Fellowships Programme- EU studies | Provide scholarships for present and prospective public servants to undertake postgraduate studies in EU related studies in the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland (Natolin). The Macedonian Secretariat for European Affairs is the implementing partner of the programme. | July 2006 -
December 2009 |
Contact persons:
Ms. Marije Maessen, Second Secretary, Development Co-operation, e-mail: 
marije.maessen@minbuza.nl
Ms. Makedonka Trajkovska, Advisor Development Co-operation, e-mail: makedonka.trajkovska@minbuza.nl
Publications of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Basic Education:
- "Education: a Basic Human Right", Fact sheet Basic Education, Fact sheet Poverty and Basic Education. Not yet available on the internet: hardcopies available through the Embassy.
World Bank publications on education in Macedonia:
