Representatives of 25 schools from across North Macedonia signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing the Network of Democratic and Inclusive Schools on 10 March 2026 at the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje. The event was organised within the framework of the project “Quality Education for All – North Macedonia”, implemented by the Council of Europe and funded by Germany.
The Network connects schools that have participated in the project over the past three years and have worked to strengthen democratic school governance, inclusive learning environments and cooperation with local communities. Through this platform, schools will continue to exchange experiences, share resources and support each other in developing democratic and inclusive practices.
The initiative reflects the Council of Europe’s long-standing commitment to preparing young people for life in democratic societies. It builds on key Council of Europe standards, including the Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education and the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (RFCDC), which promote dialogue, respect for diversity, inclusion and active participation.
During the event, participating schools also validated the teacher resource “Democratic School Practices for Democratic Values – A Teaching Resource for Democratic Teaching and Learning.” Developed in close cooperation with teachers, school teams and national education institutions, the resource compiles practical methodologies and examples derived from the experience of the 25 pilot schools. Its validation confirms its relevance as a practical tool supporting teachers and school leaders in integrating democratic culture and inclusive approaches into everyday teaching and school life.
Since its launch, the project “Quality Education for All – North Macedonia” has supported the development of democratic and inclusive practices in 25 pilot schools across all statistical regions of the country, engaging more than 1 000 education professionals and stakeholders in capacity-building activities, mentorship cycles and policy dialogue. The project also contributed to strengthening policy implementation through a Mapping Report and 21 policy recommendations, which informed discussions related to the National Education Strategy 2026–2032.
The newly established Network builds on these results and will serve as a sustainable community of practice, supporting continued peer learning, exchange of good practices and further development of democratic culture, human rights and inclusive education within the national education system.
