NON-STATE ACTORS IN EDUCATION
2.2 Non-state education provision
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
- Early childhood care and education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Primary and secondary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Tertiary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
3.2 Supplementary private tutoring
According to Article 45 of the Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia (Устав на Република Северна Македонија), the citizens have the right, under conditions determined by law, to establish private educational institutions in all levels of education, except in primary education.
Non-state actors (NSAs) are defined in the Law on Child Protection, Law on Secondary Education and Law on Higher Education, depending on the level of education.
The Law on Child Protection (Закон за заштита на децата) (consolidated text from 2021), regulates early childhood education and care as well as the NSAs in early education. The founder of a private preschool education institution can be a domestic or foreign private or a natural entity, on the basis of an approval, in accordance with this Law.
According to the Law on Primary Education (Законот за основното образование) primary and lower secondary education, is realized in schools that are organized only as public primary schools. However, there are private primary education providers, which operate as experimental programs (see section Unregistered/Unrecognized schools) for clarification.
Pursuant to the Law on Secondary Education (Законот за средното образование), upper secondary education is provided in secondary schools that are organized as public secondary schools (municipal secondary school and state secondary school) and private secondary schools. A private secondary school may be established by a domestic and foreign legal and natural person on the basis of an approval, in accordance with this Law. The Law on Secondary Education regulates the procedure for establishing and operating a private secondary school.
Higher education is regulated by the Law on Higher Education (Закон за високото образование) (2018) which regulates the procedure for establishing and operating a private higher education institution and the Law on Higher Education Institutions of Religious Communities (from 2008). Private higher education institution may be founded by a domestic or foreign legal entity or physical person in compliance with the requirements stipulated in the Law on Higher Education, pursuant to an approval from the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia.
2.1 State education provision
State schools
In the Republic of North Macedonia, most schools (98%) in primary education (5 years beginning at age 6), lower secondary education (4 years beginning at age 11) and upper secondary (3-4 years, beginning at age 15) are public schools. There are 496 which are attended by 99 % old students and more than 99% od teachers teach in public schools, which are free and compulsory.
The funds for financing the public primary and secondary schools (state and municipal) are provided from the Budget of the Republic of North Macedonia. For the municipal schools, the funds are distributed to the municipalities through block grants and earmarked grants. The municipality then distributes the funds to schools on its territory to ensure the realization of the educational process, in accordance with the established standards and norms and can supplement them from its budget.
Non-state managed, state schools
There are no non-state managed, state schools.
Non-state funded, state schools
There are no non-state managed, state schools.
2.2 Non-state education provision
Independent, non-state schools
In the Republic of North Macedonia, only around 2% of schools are independent non-state actors (secondary education), 10 of which are private schools and two are upper secondary religious schools. They are financed through private funds (tuition fees and other non-state actors). Only around 1% of the total number of students in the country attend private secondary schools.
The 2 upper secondary religious schools, funded by the religious instructions (the Church and the Mosque), and are not for profit-oriented. They had 185 students and 37 teachers in 2020/21.
State-funded (government-aided), non-state schools
There are no state-funded (government-aided), non-state schools.
Contracted, non-state schools
There are no contacted, non-state schools.
2.3 Other types of schools
Homeschooling
Homeschooling is not allowed by parents/legal guardians. Pursuant to Article 15 of the Law on Primary Education, education may be organized and realized in health care institutions, penitentiary-correctional and educational-correctional institutions, as well as in domestic conditions, in accordance with this Law. The school organizes an educational process at home as a special form of work for students who are undergoing a long-term medical treatment. For students who, due to major health problems or chronic diseases, can not attend classes for more than three weeks, classes are organized at home, i.e. in a health institution. The parent, i.ee the guardian informs the school about the need for teaching of the student who is on a longer home or hospital treatment.
The amendments to the Law on Primary Education and the Law on Secondary Education from 2020 define distance learning. The changes determine that in conditions of extraordinary circumstances (including a pandemic of the type of Covid 19), the primary or secondary school can organize teaching with physical presence or through distance learning, using electronic means of communication.
Market contracted (Voucher schools)
There are no market contracted schools (voucher schools). Public schools are free of charge for the students, and if a student attends a non-state, private school the government funding does not follow the student.
Unregistered/Unrecognised schools
According to Article 39 of the Law on Primary Education, an experimental program and a developmental-research project can be realized in a primary school, with the aim of improving the educational process. Pursuant to this article, some of the private high schools have received consent from the Ministry of Education and Science to implement an experimental program in primary education and enrol students in primary education. These schools are not officially registered in the Register of Primary Schools maintained by the Ministry of Education and Science. According to the State Statistical Office, there are 6 private schools (experimental program) in the 2020/21 academic year, with 1420 students and 208 teachers. Overall, around 1% of the total number of students in the country attend primary private schools – experimental program. The status of these schools is slightly in a ‘grey area’ because while the MoES provides agreement for their operation, it does not include them in its register and does not monitor the quality of educational provision. At the same time, some of these schools (for instance, Nova International Schools and Yahja Kemal Colledge) are considered as ‘elite’ because of the above-average material conditions, the good results on different student competitions, the innovative and contemporary curricula and the fact that they are attended by children of diplomats and local elite families.
In addition, the certificates of completed educational level are recognized by public primary and secondary schools in the country and students can transfer from private to public school and vice versa or enrol to a public high school with a certificate of completed private primary school.
The Macedonian Parliament and Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) are responsible for determining the national educational strategy and legal and policy frameworks for all education levels, except for pre-primary education and care which is a responsibility of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (MLSP). The MoES, Bureau for Development of Education (BDE), State Examination Centre (SEC) and State Educational Inspectorate (SEI), are responsible for the authorization, accreditation, and monitoring of primary and secondary educational institutions with different responsibilities. The MoES, State Educational Inspectorate (SEI) and Agency for Quality in Higher Education (AQHE), are responsible for the authorization, accreditation, and monitoring of tertiary educational institutions. In North Macedonia, both state and non-state educational institutions must be authorized to operate and follow the same procedures.
According to the Law on Local Self-Government, municipal authorities have responsibilities for financing, administrating and monitoring public early childhood care and education (ECCE) facilities and public primary and secondary schools.
Vision Major government regulations/policies include the Law on Child Protection, the Law on Secondary Education, the Law on Higher Education and the Law on Higher Education Institutions of Religious Communities. At a policy level, the Education Strategy and Action Plan 2018-2015.
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
Early Childhood Care and Education in North Macedonia covers children up to six years old, provided by preschool institutions.
Preschool education in the Republic of North Macedonia is not compulsory. According to the Law on Child Protection, institutions for care and education of children can be in the form of kindergartens and centres for early child development and can be public (state and municipal) and private. The law fully regulates the procedure for the establishment and operation of private institutions for preschool education.
Preschool facilities can be established by municipalities or domestic or foreign private or a natural entity under the Law on Child Protection. In North Macedonia, preschool education is delivered mostly by public facilities (97%). In pre-primary education, in 2019, there were 68 public kindergartens (36 687 children) and 24 private ones (1 023 children). There were also 5 kindergartens within private schools with legal personality (205 children). In 2019, the country also had four private centres for early childhood development (121 children), and one publicly owned kindergarten within legal entities for the needs of employees (50 children).
Registration and approval : Pursuant to the Law on Child Protection (Законот за заштита на децата), approval for the establishment of a private institution for children is given by the Government after the prior opinion of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (MLSP), if the conditions provided in Article 100 of this Law are met and if the programs meet the Rulebook on Standards and Norms for performing childcare activity. Approval for the establishment of a private institution is issued on the basis of a submitted request from a legal entity, i.e. a natural person. The request with the prescribed documentation is submitted to the MLSP.
The decision of the Government for granting approval for the establishment of a private institution determines:
- the type of activity for which the institution is established;
- the necessary staff, equipment and space according to standards and norms for performing the activity;
- planned total number of children;
- curriculum for performing the activity;
- the language in which the activities contained in the program are performed, and
- start of work of the private institution.
Licence: Pursuant to Article 102 of the Law on Child Protection, the institution for childcare can start operating after a request for performance of the activity by the founder, the Minister of Labor and Social Policy determines that the conditions set forth in this law and The Rulebook on the standards and norms for performing the activity of the institutions for children are met. The decision is made on the basis of the opinion of a commission composed of three members, appointed by the Minister. The Commission conducts a direct inspection in order to determine whether the conditions from Article 100 of this Law are met, on the basis of which it prepares an opinion. After the decision is made, the institution for children is registered in the appropriate register of the Central Register of the Republic of North Macedonia, within 15 days from the day of receiving the decision.
The decision has no expiration date unless the approval for establishment is withdrawn by the Government.
The founder of a private institution for children cannot change the activity for which it was established, without prior approval from the Government. The government may revoke the approval if the conditions under the Law on Child Protection are no longer met.
Profit-making: The Law on Child Protection does not prohibit profit-making
Taxes and subsidies: Pursuant to Article 66 paragraph 5 of the Law on Child Protection, in the case when in a certain municipality there is no public kindergarten or public centre for early childhood development established by the municipality or there are legal entities that do not have sufficient capacity and the parents have expressed interest and there is a required number of children for the establishment of new institutions for care and education of preschool children, the municipality may, within 30 days of documenting the need, initiate a procedure for granting a concession or awarding a contract for the establishment of public-private partnership with privately owned legal entities that operate within the system for care and education of preschool children, in accordance with the law.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: Pursuant to Article 168 paragraph 5 of the Law on Child Protection, the educational work is performed according to the Program for Early Learning and Development based on Early Learning and Development Standards, prepared by the Bureau for Development of Education, and adopted by the Minister of Labor and Social Policy. Pursuant to paragraph 14 and paragraph 15 of the same article, the founder of a private kindergarten may prepare his/her own program for upbringing of preschool children, which is approved by the Minister, after previously obtained opinion from the Bureau for Development of Education. A private ECCE institution can prepare its own program which has to be approved by the Minister, unless it is an international program such as Steiner, Decroly, Montessori, etc. when the minister only gives a positive opinion.
In the institutions for childcare, the activities are performed in Macedonian language and Cyrillic alphabet. For the children of the members of the other communities, the educational activities are performed in the language of the respective community for a group of children. If there is interest in performing activities in other languages, the educational activities in kindergartens can be performed for a group of children.
There are no specific religious curriculum criteria that non-state provisions have to meet.
Teaching profession: To work in a preschool centre, all teaching staff, whether in public or non-state centres must meet the general conditions regulated in the Law on Child Protection (Article 142, paragraph 1).
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: Pursuant to the Law on Child Protection, any kind of direct or indirect discrimination and harassment in the exercise of the rights and forms of child protection determined by this Law is prohibited. The ban applies to all institutions for children, including private institutions for children established by legal entities and individuals. Direct discrimination exists when the applicant or beneficiary of child protection is treated, has been treated or would be treated less favourably in relation to another person or group in a factual or possible comparable or similar situation, on a discriminatory basis. Indirect discrimination exists when the applicant or beneficiary of child protection is placed at a disadvantage compared to other persons or groups of persons, through seemingly neutral regulations, provisions, criteria, programs or practices, except when they arise from a legitimate aim and the means to achieve that purpose is proportionate, that is, appropriate and necessary.
Policies for vulnerable groups: According to the Law on Child Protection preschool education shall be provided in Macedonian and children's native language in the case of minorities.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Reporting requirements: Private institutions must follow and comply with the Rulebook on standards and norms for performing the activity of institutions for children.
Inspection: The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy inspects the implementation and enforcement of the Law on Child Protection and other regulations related to child protection, institutions for children, kindergartens/centers for early childhood development, established as an organizational unit in composition of legal entities, higher education institution and private school, as well as over other legal and natural persons that perform certain activities in the field of child care and upbringing. Article 205 of the Law on Child Protection regulates in detail what is covered by the inspection (supervision over the fulfilment of the conditions that refer to the space, the equipment, the staff, the groups; supervision of the validity of work licences of persons involved in the child care, the realization of the programs and other prescribed standards and norms that regulate the activity in the institutions, supervision over the implementation of the pronounced measures during the previously performed inspection supervision…).
Child assessments: The performance of the professional work in the activity of child protection is performed by professional supervision. The supervision of the professional work determines whether the activities for realization of the protection of the children are based on modern, scientific and professional methods and achievements for that type of activity and whether it is organized in the most expedient and most efficient way. Supervision of the professional work in the realization of the educational work is performed by the Ministry of Education and Science.
Sanctions: The founder of a private institution for childcare cannot change the activity for which it was established, without prior approval of the Government. The government may revoke the approval if the conditions under the Law on Child Protection are no longer met.
The Minister of Labor and Social Policy, on the basis of a report on the performed inspection, may issue a decision to prohibit the operation of a children's institution, kindergarten/centre for early childhood development if, on the basis of the performed supervision, it is determined that the prescribed conditions for performing the activity are no longer fulfilled or the activity is performed to the detriment of the users, and the ascertained shortcomings are not eliminated by the legal entity and the natural person within the deadline set by the ministry.
An appeal may be filed against the decision for prohibition to perform the activity to the State Commission for deciding in administrative procedure and employment procedure in the second instance within 15 days from the day of receiving the decision.
After the finalization of the decision, the Ministry will propose to the Government to revoke the approval.
The law also regulates the fines for private institutions for non-compliance with the provisions of this law.
Registration and approval: Pursuant to the Law on Secondary Education, a private secondary school may be established by a domestic and foreign legal and natural person on the basis of an approval, in accordance with this Law. This Law does not include primary education; as stated in the Terminology section, according to the Constitution, primary education can be only public (founded by the Government or by the municipalities). Private institutions/NGO/religious institutions can not establish a primary education institution and therefore the Law on primary education does not regulate private schools at all.
A private high school can be established if:
- curricula and programs for educational work have been adopted,
- appropriate premises and equipment are provided for the realization of secondary education,
- the financial plan provides a sustainable level of funding for at least one generation of students in the school,
- the required number of persons who meet the requirements set for teachers and professional associates in secondary education, who have given a statement that they will apply for the public announcement and that they will establish employment if they are selected in the public announcement and
- the other conditions determined by the Norms and standards for establishing a high school for the purpose of performing secondary education are met (the Norms and standards regulate the infrastructure, while the class size is regulated in the Law and it is obligatory for all schools public and/or private).
To establish a private high school, the founder must provide a bank guarantee that he/she will be able to reimburse the funds paid by the students to the private high school that stopped working and the other expenses that the students will have for transferring to another high school in the country.
The founder of the private high school submits to the request for approval for the establishment of private high school curricula and programs harmonized with the national Concept for state matura, school matura and final exam.
The procedure for establishing a high school begins with submitting a request for approval for establishing a high school with a report for the establishment and a draft founding act for establishing a high school to the Ministry of Education and Science. The decision to grant approval for the establishment of a private high school is made by the Government.
To determine the fulfilment of the conditions, the Minister forms a commission composed of representatives from the Ministry and the State Education Inspectorate. The Bureau for Development of Education, i.e. the Center for Vocational Education and Training, gives an opinion on the curricula. The decision to grant approval for the establishment of a private high school is made by the Government after the prior opinion of the Ministry, the Bureau for Development of Education and the Center for Vocational Education and Training, if the conditions set by law are met.
The Government Decision on approving the establishment of a private high school determines:
- educational area, i.e. the type of secondary education for which the private school is established;
- required teaching staff, equipment, space according to pedagogical standards and norms;
- number of students;
- the language in which the teaching will be conducted;
- the program/curriculum for the educational activity and
- start of work of the private school.
After making the decision to grant approval for the establishment of a private high school, the founder adopts a founding act, according to the proposal of the founding act that was attached to the request for approval for the establishment of a private high school.
Licence: After an approval from the Government, the school submits to the Ministry of Education and Science a request for verification of the school. The manner of verification of a secondary school is regulated in a Bylaw adopted by the Minister of Education and Science from 2007 and amended in 2013 (and is the same for public and/or private schools) The verification of the school is performed by the Verification Commission which is formed by the Minister of Education and Science. The Commission for Verification of State or Private High School consists of three members: one member each from the Ministry, the Bureau for Development of Education and the State Education Inspectorate. The commission through direct inspection determines the fulfilment of the conditions for performing the educational activity of the high school in accordance with the law. After the inspection, the Commission submits a written report to the Ministry on the fulfillment of the conditions with a proposal for verification. Based on the submitted report and the proposal of the Commission, a decision for verification is made by the Minister. The decision for verification of the high school is made no later than May 31 of the current for the next school year. The decision is submitted to the verified high school, to the founder and to the State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia. The state or private high school that has been verified is registered in the Central Register kept by the Ministry.
The decision for verification has no expiration date unless withdrawn by the Ministry.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH): Private high schools are obliged to follow the Norms and standards for establishing a high school as well as to respect all national standards for a safe and healthy environment, just as public schools do.
Profit-making: The law does not prohibit profit-making. Private high schools are funded by tuition and other sources of funding.
Taxes and subsidies: Pursuant to Article 23 of the Law on Value Added Tax, services within the accommodation of children and youth for the purpose of their upbringing, education or further education, as well as closely related turnover of goods and educational services such as education and upbringing of children and youth including school and university education services are exempt from value added tax.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: Pursuant to Article 11-a, paragraph 3 of the Law on Secondary Education, the founder of a private high school submits their own curricula and programs harmonized with the Concept for state matura, school matura and final exam to the request for approval for the establishment of a private high school. Prior to the adoption of the Decision on Establishment by the Government, the Bureau for Development of Education (for general education subjects), i.e. the Center for Vocational Education and Training (for vocational subjects) gives an opinion on the curricula.
According to Article 4 of the Law on Secondary Education in private schools, teaching can be conducted in a foreign language.
There are no specific religious curriculum criteria that non-state provisions have to meet.
Textbooks and learning materials: Private schools have the freedom to choose their own textbooks and didactic materials, different from the public schools (not covered by the Law on Textbooks in Primary and Secondary Education).
Teaching profession: Teachers in private high schools must meet the requirements and standards set by the Law on Teachers and Professional Associates in Primary and Secondary Schools and the Standards for Professional Conduct of Primary and Secondary School Teachers, and they are the same for public and private schools
The Law stipulates that the teacher must be a citizen of the Republic of North Macedonia, with the exception of the private high school, for the subjects for which teaching is conducted in a foreign language, teachers can be foreign nationals who have an appropriate type of education under certain conditions by law.
Corporal punishment: Pursuant to Article 5 of the Law on Teachers and Professional Associates in Primary and Secondary Schools, discrimination against teachers (in public and private schools) on all grounds is prohibited. Physical and psychological harassment of a teacher is prohibited. Pursuant to Article 43 of the same law, discrimination of professional associates (in public and private schools) on all grounds is prohibited. Physical and psychological harassment of a professional associate is prohibited.
Pursuant to Article 51 of the Law on Secondary Education, corporal punishment and psychological harassment of a student is prohibited.
Other safety measures and COVID-19: Ministry of Education and Science implemented a combined learning model both for private and public schools (early grades students with physical presence, others with distance learning) to prevent the coronavirus spread (COVID 19). Additionally, to provide universal access to education, the Television program “TV Clasroom” was implemented.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: No specific information was found on regulations on students’ admission, but the Law on Secondary Education specifies the prohibition by educational institutions of any discrimination in students’ admission. Secondary education in North Macedonia is compulsory for every citizen, under equal conditions determined by the law.
Policies for vulnerable groups: Secondary education in North Macedonia is compulsory for every citizen, under equal conditions determined by the law.
Every year, the Ministry of Education and Science awards several types of scholarships: scholarships for students from socially vulnerable categories, scholarships for Roma students, scholarships for students with disabilities, scholarships for talented students, which apply equally to public school students as well as students from private schools.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
School board: Article 90 of the Law on Secondary Education stipulates that the management and governance in the private secondary school are determined by the founder. Article 92 stipulates that the governing body of the private high school organizes and manages the educational and other work, makes decisions independently, represents the school before third parties and is responsible for the legality of the work of the school.
Reporting requirements: Educational institutions are subject to internal and external quality assurance mechanisms. External mechanisms include mandatory authorization and accreditation processes, and internal quality assurance consists of self-assessment reports to verify compliance with the authorization terms.
School inspection: Pursuant to the Law on Secondary Education, the Ministry of Education and Science supervises the legality of the work of secondary schools (including private ones). Professional supervision in the secondary school (including the private ones) is performed by the Bureau for Development of Education in a manner determined by law. The high school is obliged to enable uninterrupted professional supervision and inspection of the pedagogical documentation kept in the high school. Inspection supervision (including of private schools) is performed by the State Education Inspectorate and authorized municipal inspectors in a manner determined by law. The State Education Inspectorate also supervises the quality of the educational process in secondary schools.
Student assessment: Students from private high schools are included in the state matura system, i.e. they are obliged to take it if they want to continue their education at one of the higher education institutions.
Diplomas and degrees: Private high schools keep pedagogical records and documentation in accordance with the Law on Secondary Education. Article 74 paragraph 5 stipulates that for students in private high schools with instruction in a foreign language, the diploma and certificate are issued in Macedonian using the Cyrillic alphabet and the language and alphabet in which the instruction is conducted.
Sanctions on school closures: According to the Law on Secondary Education, educational Institution founders can request the institution's closure, or the state can revoke permanently the approval due to noncompliance with the authorization requirements.
The Government may revoke the approval upon the proposal of the Ministry, if:
- the founder establishes a private school contrary to the act of approval and
- it is determined that the private school no longer meets the requirements of the law or does not implement the provisions of the law and the bylaws arising from it.
The approval may be terminated at the request of the founder. The Law on Secondary Education (Article 15-a) regulates the procedure for termination of operation of a private school in case it is not able to finance its activity: “When the founder determines that the need for a private secondary school has ceased, or not is able to finance its activity, s/he informs the governing body of the private high school and other co-founders or partners or shareholders when the founder is a legal entity and gives them at least 30 days to decide whether the private high school will continue to operate by providing its own sources of funding, i.e. whether the financing of the private high school will be taken over by one of the co-founders if the private high school was founded by two or more founders, or one of the partners or shareholders if the founder of the private high school is one legal entity. If the managing body, i.e. co-founder, partner or shareholder informs the founder that there are no conditions for performing the educational activity with own sources of funding or with funds of one of the founders, i.e. partner or shareholder, the founder makes a decision to terminate the private high school. In the decision, the founder is obliged to determine the way in which the students will continue their secondary education. If the funds provided by the founder for the performance of the given guarantees are not sufficient for the realization of the right of the students to continue their education, the founder for the fulfilment of the given guarantees is liable indefinitely with all his property
The Law also regulates fines for non-compliance with legal obligations.
The Republic of North Macedonia has been a full member of the Bologna Process / European Higher Education Area since 2003. According to the Law on Higher Education (Article 15), higher education institutions can be public (33,3 % share of total institutions), public-private non-profit facilities (5,6 % share of total institutions) and private non-profit facilities (61,1 % share of total institutions). Only higher education institutions that have been founded in compliance of this Law may operate under the name of University, Faculty, Art Academy, Higher Vocational School or Autonomous Higher Vocational School.
According to the Law on Higher Education Institutions of Religious Communities (from 2008), the Orthodox Theological Faculty "St. Kliment Ohridski" - Skopje and the Faculty of Islamic Sciences - Skopje, as higher education institutions of religious communities, acquire the status of private-public non-profit higher education institutions in accordance with the Law on Higher Education.
Registration and approval: Private higher education institution may be founded by a domestic or foreign legal entity or physical person in compliance with the requirements stipulated in the Law on Higher Education, pursuant to approval from the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia.
Public-private non-profit higher education institution may be founded by a non-profit foundation that has been established by a foreign legal entity or physical person with public funds raised from foreign and domestic sources in compliance with the requirements stipulated in the Law on Higher Education, pursuant to an approval from the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia.
According to the Law on Higher Education, the procedure for founding the private higher education institution shall be initiated with the development of the higher education institution Foundation Project. The Foundation Project, in particular, includes: Explanation of the reasons and justification for foundation; Study areas with their full description as an integrity and per study groups, departments and streams, Premises and equipment required for the performance of the higher education, scientific, or artistic and the vocational activity in the corresponding area, The source of financial means for the performance of higher education activity, Opportunities for ensuring the required number of persons that can be elected to scientific teaching, scientific and teaching titles, and Plan of procedure for fulfilling the other requirements that have been stipulated in the Rulebook on the Norms and the Standards for Foundation of higher education institutions and for the Performance of Higher Education Activity that has been adopted by the National Council.
The Foundation Project for a private higher education institution, with the annexes, is submitted by the founder of the private higher education institution through the Ministry of Education and Science to the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia for approval. Once the approval from the Government has been obtained, the founder of the private higher education institution submits the Foundation Project with the annexes to the Accreditation Board, including the approval for the foundation from the Government, in a form the content of which is defined by the Accreditation Board. The Accreditation Board adopts the resolution for accreditation of a Foundation Project for a private or a public-private higher education institution for the University as a whole and each Unit of the University separately, or the autonomous private Higher Vocational School, not later than 90 days upon submission of the application for accreditation of the project.
The MoES, the founder and the Accreditation Board may initiate a procedure for withdrawal of the right to performance of the higher education activity of a higher education institution, and for the withdrawal of the right to performance of a higher education activity of a Unit in its structure, the procedure may be initiated by the University itself. The procedure is implemented before the Accreditation Board.
Licence: Upon adoption of the Founding Act for the private higher education institution, the Minister in charge of higher education affairs, pursuant to the proposal from the National Council, appoints a Founding Commission. The Founding Commission for the foundation of a University consists of five members for each Unit of а University. The Founding Commission performs the preparatory work that creates the circumstances for the commencement of work of the accredited higher education institution. Upon completion of the preparations for the commencement of work, the founder or the authority authorised by it files an application to the MoES for verification of the fulfilment of the requirements for the commencement of work of the higher education institution.
If it is established that the requirements stipulated in the Law on Higher Education and in the resolution for accreditation have also been met, the MoES within 60 days upon submission of the application adopts a Resolution for Commencement of Work of the higher education institution.
Profit-making: According to Article 2 of the Law on Higher Education, “Public-private Non-profit higher education institution” shall mean the higher education institution that works in the public interest which has been founded by a non-profit foundation using public funds from foreign and domestic sources. Funds raised by this facility shall be used solely and exclusively for the performance of higher education activities. This facility shall not generate and shall not distribute profits.
According to Article 10 of this Law, private higher education institutions shall autonomously use their own revenue in a manner that has been stipulated in the Statute of the higher education institutions.
Taxes and subsidies: As for primary and secondary education, pursuant to Article 23 of the Law on Value Added Tax, services within the accommodation of children and youth for the purpose of their upbringing, education or further education, as well as the closely related turnover of goods and educational services such as education and upbringing of children and youth including school and university education services are exempt from value-added tax.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: Study programmes of the public, private and public-private HEI are valued on the basis of European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits they carry. It is required that study programmes are developed following the National Qualification Framework. The study programmes in undergraduate, graduate and doctoral studies should include compulsory and elective courses, except the study programmes for the regulated professions referred to in Article 147 of the Law on Higher Education.
Article 140 of the Law stipulates what a study programme shall at the very minimum contain. The content of the study programmes is prescribed in more detail by the Rulebook on the contents of the study programmes adopted by the National Council for Higher Education.
The study programme is accredited, or re-accredited by the Accreditation Board for a period of five years.
Teaching at private higher education institutions may also be delivered in Macedonian, in the languages of the members of the communities that are not the majority in the Republic of North Macedonia or in the world languages.
Teaching profession: The Law on Higher Education stipulates the criteria; conditions and procedure for election in scientific teaching, vocational teaching, teaching and associate titles that are obligatory for public, private and public-private institutions. The Law also regulates the Election Procedure, employment establishment, paid and unpaid leave and sabbatical year, termination of employment due to retirement age.
Fee-setting: According to article 127 of the Law on Higher Education, a private university, a private-public university, or a private autonomous higher vocational school, within the number of students determined by the enrolment competition, shall determine the tuition fees. The tuition fee shall determine the costs for studying for one academic year, that is, for obtaining 60 ECTS credits.
Admission selection and processes: The decision on the number of students enrolling in a private higher education institution is adopted by the teaching-scientific council, or the teaching council, under conditions determined by Law on Higher Education. The number of students cannot be higher than the number determined according to the capacity established by the accreditation decision of the private higher education institution.
The decision on the number of students enrolling in third-cycle studies of a private higher education institution is subject to approval by the Government, on the proposal of the teaching-scientific council or the council of the scientific institution.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Board: According to article 92 of the Law on Higher Education, authorities of the University are the Senate of the University, the Rector and the Rector’s Office. Private, i.e. public-private University may have an authority of the founder instead of University Council, with rights and responsibilities stipulated in the Founding Act and the Statute of the University, in compliance with this Law. The number of members and the composition of the authority is determined by the founder with the Founding Act of the University and the Statute of the University. The authority of the founder may not have rights and responsibilities which limit and harm the autonomy of the higher education institution or limit the rights and responsibilities of the authorities of the University stipulated in this Law.
Reporting requirements: The Quality Assurance Agency, established under the Law on Higher Education is responsible for quality assurance for all public, private and public-private institutions.
Evaluation of higher education institutions is conducted through: external evaluation and self-assessment. The external evaluation is conducted by Expert Commission elected by the Board for Evaluation of the Higher Education. Self-assessment is conducted by a Commission for Self-assessment of the University or of the Unit of the University, or a Commission for Self-assessment of the Autonomous Higher Vocational School, in a manner and according to a procedure stipulated in the Statute of the University or the Statute of the Autonomous Higher Vocational School.
Inspection: The inspection supervision under the Law on Higher Education is performed by the State Education Inspectorate for all public, private and public-private institutions. Inspection is regulated in the Annual working programme of the Inspectorate; every two to three years, a regular inspection is conducted which covers compliance with the Law on Higher Education.
Student assessment: The National Examination Center is responsible for conducting matura exams which is a precondition for students to access tertiary education. In the first cycle of academic studies, as well as academic studies in the field of arts, only a person who has passed a state matura or an international graduation examination or who has completed four years of secondary education according to the regulations that were valid before the introduction of the state matura, can be enrolled.
Diplomas and degrees: The University and the university unit, or the autonomous higher vocational school issue a diploma to a student who fulfils all obligations under the study programme for obtaining higher education in any education cycle on the basis of the records kept for said student. The diploma confirms that the student has completed a study programme of the first, second or third cycle and acquires the appropriate vocational or scientific title. An integral part of the diploma is a diploma supplement. This refers to all accredited public, private and public-private higher education institutions.
Sanctions: According to the Law on Higher Education, educational Institution founders can request the institution's closure, or the state can revoke the approval to work due to non-compliance with the authorization requirements.
The Ministry in charge of higher education affairs, the founder and the Accreditation Board may initiate a procedure for withdrawal of the right to performance of the higher education activity of a higher education institution, and for the withdrawal of the right to performance of a higher education activity of a Unit in its structure, the procedure may be initiated by the University itself. The procedure is implemented before the Accreditation Board. If the Accreditation Board, based on the report from the Evaluation Board, finds that the higher education institution has ceased fulfilling the requirements stipulated in the Law on higher education, for the performance of the higher education activity, charges the higher education institution by way of written notification to remove the shortcomings. If within the time set by the Accreditation Board, which may not be shorter than 60 days nor longer than 120 days from the day of receiving the written notification the higher education institution fails to remove the shortcomings of which it has been notified, the Accreditation Board within 15 days adopts a resolution for withdrawal of the granted accreditation and immediately, and not later than three days from the adoption of the resolution for withdrawal of the accreditation, notifies the Ministry.
Pursuant to the resolution for withdrawal of the accreditation, the Ministry within 10 days from receiving the resolution adopts a resolution for withdrawal of the right to performance of the higher education activity, which is final. Once the resolution has been adopted, the Ministry deregisters the higher education institution from the Register of the higher education institution and files an application for deregistration from the Central Registry. The final resolution of the Ministry may be contested by way of filing a complaint with the Administrative Court.
The Law also regulates the Misdemeanour Fines and the Misdemeanour Procedure.
3.2 Supplementary private tutoring
There is no specific regulation regarding private tutoring institutions. A private tutoring institution can be established under the Law on Trade Companies as a company. The Ministry of Education and Science does not authorise/verify or monitor private tutoring institutions. However, there are informal networks of tutors for different fields.
According to Article 36 of the Law on Primary Education, and Article 48-b of the Law on Secondary Education, the Ministry shall provide additional support to students in given subjects from the curriculum for the respective academic year of enrolment.
Financial operation and quality
The additional support provided by the Ministry, tutoring can be realized by a tutor-volunteer in accordance with the Program for tutors for primary school students and the Program for tutors for secondary school students, which are determined by the Minister. Tutor-volunteer may be a regular university student who tutors students voluntarily and meets the special criteria for selection of tutor- volunteer as specified in the Program.
According to Article 48 of the Law on Student Standard, a university student who tutors students voluntarily gets extra points when applying for a scholarship offered by the Ministry of Education and Science.
The regulations governing the teaching workforce are regulated in the Law on Teachers and School Professional Staff, which outlines the process of entry as a teacher, the professional competencies, professional and career development, the assignments of teachers and the professional school staff, the evaluations etc. The working conditions and salaries and benefits are not part of the Law but are included as part of the collective agreement with the teacher’s trade union. There are no regulations on whether teachers can provide tutoring services either as part of their job or as an additional job (second income).
This profile was drafted by the Network of Education Policy Centers (NEPC).
