Top priority of the Ministry of Education and Science and the government is to ensure access to quality education for every child. Therefore, with the new concept of primary education, we are creating a “new school” in which the main pillars are the improvement of interethnic integration, protection against discrimination and inclusion in order to promote the education of the smaller ethnic communities, the Ministry of Education and Science said in a press release.
Education Minister Mila Carovska, congratulating April 8, World Roma Day and the 50th anniversary of the first Roma World Roma Congress held in 1971, said that with the new curricula being prepared, the goal is to build new generations that will be raised to show mutual respect, tolerance and respect for diversity in society.
“In order to support the primary education of Roma children, funds amounting to 6 million denars are provided from the budget of the Ministry of Education and Science for 2021 for engaging 35 educational mediators that will operate in 26 municipalities in the country. Educational Mediators are needed to help the inclusion of Roma children in primary education, to assist towards the continuity and retention of Roma pupils in the educational process, and to facilitate the communication between the school, the parents, the community,” Carovska said.
The new project “Regularly attending classes: Action for Inclusion of Roma in Elementary Education” supported by the Ministry of Education and Science, was launched by the Foundation Open Society – Macedonia in partnership with the Foundation for Educational and Cultural Initiatives Step by Step and the Association Center for Educational Support of children “Dendo Vas”, funded by the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of North Macedonia.
A total of 638 scholarships have been awarded to Roma students enrolled in the first and second grade in the academic year 2020/2021 within the project. Scholarships were awarded to a total of 300 students enrolled in the first grade and 338 scholarships were awarded to Roma students enrolled in the second grade, reads the press release.
“The number of scholarships for high school students for this school year has been increased. A total of 891 scholarships for Roma high school students from public and private schools for this school year have been awarded in five categories, according to student achievement,” Carovska said.
In order to ensure inclusiveness of the education system, a concept for inclusive education was adopted, which regulates the manner and procedure for inclusion of children outside the education system.
In the new Law on Primary Education, the process of interethnic integration in education is further strengthened through promotion of multiculturalism/
