Back From pilot schools to mentors: Expanding the Network of Democratic and Inclusive Schools in North Macedonia

From pilot schools to mentors: Expanding the Network of Democratic and Inclusive Schools in North Macedonia

Twenty-five schools across North Macedonia are taking on a new role as mentors, sharing their experience and good practices with 25 additional partner schools. This was the main focus of the first working meeting of the Network of Democratic and Inclusive Schools, held on 28 October 2026 at the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje.

The meeting brought together representatives of schools that, over the past three years, have worked to strengthen democratic school governance, inclusive teaching and respect for diversity through the first phase of the “Quality Education for All” project. In the new project phase, they will share the knowledge they have gained through mentoring, peer learning and practical co-operation.

Through interactive discussions and group work, participants reviewed achievements to date, their capacities and areas where further support is needed. Particular attention was paid to identifying new partner schools, taking into account geographical coverage, local education needs and challenges related to equal opportunities and preventing segregation.

The proposals put forward during the meeting will contribute to the selection of new partners and the planning of mentoring activities in 2027.

Established in March 2026, the Network is set to expand from 25 to 50 schools, with the aim of fostering long-term co-operation, the exchange of successful practices and school environments in which every child feels welcomed, respected and encouraged to participate actively.

The event was organised within the framework of the project “Quality Education for All – Building Democratic Resilience – North Macedonia”, implemented by the Council of Europe with financial support from Germany, in co-operation with national education institutions.

Skopje, North Macedonia 28 October 2026
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This project is implemented by the Council of Europe and funded by Germany. It is carried out in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Science, the Bureau for Development of Education and the Centre for Vocational Education and Training of North Macedonia from April 2026 to September 2028. The project builds on the outcomes of the first phase of the project (link to archived page here) which ran from December 2022 to 31 March 2026.

OBJECTIVE

To strengthen democratic culture, inclusion and democratic resilience in education in North Macedonia through support for democratic school governance, inclusive education policies and the promotion of competences for democratic culture at policy, institutional and school levels.

The project will benefit education policy makers, educational institutions, school principals, teachers, students, vocational education professionals, municipalities and local communities.

EXPECTED RESULTS/OUTCOMES  

The implementation of the National Education Strategy (2026–2032) and related reforms on democratic culture, inclusion and participatory school governance is strengthened through enhanced institutional capacities, policy support and monitoring mechanisms.

A Network of 25 Mentor Schools and 25 partner schools will reinforce democratic school culture, peer learning, inclusive practices and community engagement across primary and secondary education.

Teachers, school leadership and vocational education professionals will be equipped with tools, methodologies and guidance to integrate competences for democratic culture, digital citizenship education and inclusive approaches into teaching, learning and school governance.

National and local authorities will strengthen the implementation of desegregation measures and inclusive education policies in line with the European Court of Human Rights judgment in Elmazova and Others v. North Macedonia.

ACTIVITIES/OUTPUTS  

  • Development of an Action Plan and policy recommendations to strengthen the integration of the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (RFCDC) across subjects and school practices in primary and secondary education.
  • Provision of targeted policy support, expert advice and stakeholder consultations for the implementation of the National Education Strategy (2026–2032), with a focus on democratic culture, inclusion and learner participation.
  • Development of a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, including indicators and tools, to support the evidence-based implementation of democratic culture, inclusion and digital citizenship education in schools.
  • Implementation of capacity-building activities, training-of-trainer programmes, mentoring and peer-learning initiatives for 25 Mentor Schools and 25 partner schools on democratic governance, inclusive teaching and community engagement.
  • Development and piloting of Digital Democracy Classrooms integrating democratic values, digital citizenship, gender equality and student participation into teaching and school governance.
  • Development of desegregation policy measures, monitoring tools and school-level implementation guidance in co-operation with national and local authorities.
  • Preparation of recommendations and didactic guidance for integrating competences for democratic culture into vocational education and training (VET).
  • Organisation of regional exchanges, peer-learning activities and awareness-raising events promoting democratic and inclusive education, including Democratic School Days and community outreach activities.


 

PROJECT CONTACTS

Romela Popovikj              Senior Project Officer               +389 2 3100 334                    contact

 

Irena Ordev                      Project Assistant                           +389 2 3100 320                     contact