The Final Steering Committee Meeting of the project “Quality Education for All – North Macedonia” took place on 11 March 2026 at the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje, bringing together representatives of national institutions, education stakeholders, the Council of Europe and the donor to review the project’s achievements and discuss priorities for continued cooperation.

Implemented between December 2022 and April 2026, the project supported the strengthening of democratic culture, inclusive education and participatory school governance in North Macedonia. The meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress achieved and to highlight the importance of sustained cooperation between national institutions, schools and international partners in promoting democratic values through education.

At policy level, the project contributed to evidence-based reform dialogue through the preparation of a Mapping Report and a set of 21 policy recommendations addressing key priorities in democratic citizenship education, inclusive and multicultural education and participatory governance in schools. The recommendations also included measures supporting the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights judgment in the case of Elmazova and Others v. North Macedonia, with a focus on preventing segregation and strengthening inclusive education at community level. These findings informed discussions related to the National Education Strategy 2026–2032, contributing to stronger alignment between national reforms and European human rights standards.

At school level, the project supported 25 pilot schools across all statistical regions of the country through structured capacity-building modules, mentorship cycles and peer-learning activities aligned with the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (RFCDC). These activities strengthened teachers’ capacities to foster democratic values, inclusive classroom environments and participatory approaches in teaching and school governance.

During the meeting, the Steering Committee also endorsed the educational resource “Democratic School Practices for Democratic Values.” Developed in cooperation with teachers, school teams and national education institutions, and validated through consultations with participating schools, the resource provides practical guidance and tested methodologies for promoting democratic culture, human rights and inclusive practices in schools.

Participants also highlighted the importance of continuing collaboration within the Network of Democratic and Inclusive Schools, which provides a platform for peer learning, exchange of experience and further development of democratic school practices.

The meeting also introduced the next phase of the project (2026–2028), which will build on the results achieved and further support the implementation of the National Education Strategy, deepen the integration of the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture within educational policies and practice, and strengthen cooperation with schools and national institutions.

The results achieved during the project demonstrate the value of sustained cooperation between national institutions, schools and international partners in promoting democratic culture and inclusive education, contributing to long-term improvements in the quality and inclusiveness of the education system in North Macedonia.

The project “Quality Education for All – North Macedonia” is implemented by the Council of Europe and funded by the Federal Republic of Germany.