A follow-up round table was held in Veles on 17 June 2025 as part of the project “Quality Education for All – North Macedonia”, implemented by the Council of Europe and funded by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Building on the first-round table held on 16 January 2024 in Skopje, which was convened in response to the European Court of Human Rights judgment in the case of Elmazova and Others v. North Macedonia, the event reconfirmed the national stakeholders’ commitment to inclusive and rights-based education. The judgment found discrimination against Roma pupils resulting from their segregation in two State-run primary schools.

Since the project’s launch, 25 pilot schools—including the two schools named in the judgment—have been supported to enhance inclusive governance, promote democratic culture, and increase student participation. Capacity-building efforts have included tailored training, mentoring, the development of inclusive education resources, and Democracy and Human Rights Summer Academies addressing key topics such as non-discrimination, diversity, and peaceful conflict resolution.

A study visit to Croatia offered an opportunity for Macedonian representatives from relevant ministries, municipalities and schools to exchange with peers on good practices in addressing school segregation, inspired by the Oršuš and Others v. Croatia case. These exchanges are helping to shape community-based responses to uphold the right to inclusive education.

The round table served as a platform for reviewing progress, discussing practical challenges and identifying sustainable solutions. Participants from institutional, municipal, school and civil society sectors offered recommendations to guide the next phase of implementation. The event reaffirmed the importance of strategic coordination, legal and policy alignment, and shared responsibility in realising the Court’s judgment and ensuring equal access to quality education for all learners.