Skopje, 6 November 2024 (MIA) - The newly established National Coordinating Body for Reforms in Higher Education, Science, Research and Development held a constitutive session Wednesday, officially beginning its work. The body is headed by the Minister of Education and Science, Vesna Janevska. It is tasked with delivering reports to the Government every six months.

After the constitutive session, Minister Janevska stressed the body was established by the Government with the goal of working to “elevate the devastated higher education system and ensure sustainability and quality, as well as improve investments in science and the conditions for research in the country“. 
 

“It is an inclusive body made up of representatives of institutions such as the Ministry of Education and Science, the National Council for Higher Education and Research, representatives of universities and the Inter-university Conference, the business community and citizens’ associations. They are all expected to be objective and committed to a general change of the situation to the benefit of all and to the benefit of the country. We will check the legality of the work of institutions, the fulfillment of the conditions for work, we will revise the quotas for admissions to the faculties, encourage the improvement of study programs and the creation of interdisciplinary programs. We will support linking with the business community, greater international cooperation and participation in education, science and research programs,” Janevska said. 

The Minister said an expert working group is also expected to be established to assess proposals regarding the financing of universities.

Solza Grcheva, national coordinator for education and vice-president of the National Coordinating Body, stressed that the Government will work to solve the systemic problems in education. 

“Our education ranks very low compared to many European countries, but also compared to the Balkan countries. There are piled up, systemic problems. And it is good that this Government is working to solve precisely those systemic problems, and not the cosmetic problems that won’t solve anything,” Grcheva said. 

Photo: MIA/Ministry of Education and Science