Although access to education has improved nationwide, the quality of education remains a challenge as evidenced by international test scores of Macedonian students, according to Massimiliano Paolucci, World Bank Country Manager for North Macedonia, who also noted the flawed education begins in elementary schools and persists throughout the higher grades.

Based on the World Bank Human Capital Index for 2020, children born in Macedonia today will achieve as adults only 56 percent of the productivity they could have achieved if they had access to an optimal education and health care system, Paolucci said.

Speaking at a presentation of a project for improving primary education worth 21.5 million euros through the World Bank, Paolucci added that the Covid-19 pandemic has most likely worsened primary education outcomes.

Given that many students do not master basic life skills, according to him, it is imperative to improve the country’s education along with reducing the inequality gap between students of different socio-economic backgrounds.

The World Bank will support the Government in implementing comprehensive reforms as a basis for long-term improvements resulting in a modern education system and more competitive human capital, Paolucci said.

The project will directly involve primary schools to improve learning conditions and help make up for learning losses caused by the pandemic.

“We will support vulnerable groups, including the Roma, as well as students who are negatively affected by the Covid-19 crisis,” the World Bank country manager said.

The project will focus on equality and improving education quality to help the country improve its human capital, workforce productivity, and encourage a more inclusive labor market, he added.

The state will use the funding from the World Bank to invest in school infrastructure, upskill teachers, and reform the national grading system toward developing a state testing program.