Македонски центар за меѓународна соработка - МЦМС

The analysis of the educational structure in Republic of Macedonia points out that out of total number of persons over 15 years of age, almost half (49.39%) do not possess or possess low level of education (illiterate, unfinished elementary and with elementary education). If we add to this group the persons with finished three of four year secondary education, then, the conditions within the educational structure of the population in Republic of Macedonia is alarming and does not offer optimism for future economic and social development of the country.

Even more perturbing is the fact that there are gaps in Macedonia in terms of the educational structure. Most evident are the rural-urban gaps and gaps reflecting the ethnical affiliation. The municipalities with the lowest level of illiteracy are the rural municipalities and those where the dominant inhabitants are ethnic Albanian, Turkish and Roma.

The Government of Republic of Macedonia, through the Ministry of Education has undertaken several measures for improvement of the educational system. However, in order to achieve maximum effect in these endeavours, it is necessary to provide coordination of the activities in this field, as well as to establish the type of activities which will be implemented by the public, private and civil society sector and in what relations they will be with the educational activity, as a strategic determination of the state.

During the period of 2001-2005, in order to improve the inclusion in the elementary education, MCIC realized the Programme for Applied Education for Young Roma (POR). In the framework of this programme, among other things, advocacy and lobbying activities were implemented. Fourteen leading Roma organizations in Macedonia founded “a network” called Roma 2002, thereby attesting the awareness for need for coordination of their activities and combining efforts in order to multiply the results of their work. One of the priorities of the “network” is advocacy and lobbying in the field of education of Roma.

The overall goal of the project was contribution towards improvement of the inclusion of Roma in the Macedonian educational system.

The objective of the project was contribution towards strengthening of the organizational and institutional capacity of the network “Roma 2002” and their mechanisms for advocacy and lobbying for education of Roma.

The result of the project was efficient functioning of the lobby group for education in the framework of the network “Roma 2002” and its visibility in the public.

In the framework of this project, the following activities were realized: Strategic planning, Information, Coordinative Body of the network “Roma 2002”, Annual Assembly of the network “Roma 2002”; Lobby group for education; Lobby meetings, Organizational support.

The time period for implementation of the project was: July 1st – December 31st 2007.

The direct expenditure for the project amount to 800,318.00 MKD.

The funds were covered by the Danish Inter-Church Aid (DCA).