Skopje, 1 March 2023 (MIA) - Minister of Education and Science Jeton Shaqiri and UNICEF Representative Patrizia DiGiovanni signed Wednesday the annual cooperation programme, designed to improve quality of education in the country.

Regarding the increase of the effectiveness and efficiency of expenditures for elementary education through optimization of the network of elementary schools and revision of the financial formula, the Ministry and UNICEF will work together on the development of municipal optimization plans and their modelling in ten selected municipalities, the development of national standards for space, equipment and instruction tools for a school, as well as involvement of representatives of municipalities, school employees, parents, pupils and other local stakeholders in the development of optimization plans. The Ministry will be able to use international experiences on reforms of school financing and optimization, the Ministry of Education and Science said in a press release.

The programme also includes support for development of policies and programmes that contribute to safe, sound, gender-responsive, inclusive learning environments with proper resources. The Ministry will get technical support for development of curricula for elementary and secondary education, setting up new services of resource centers for inclusive education, as well as technical support for inclusion of environment and climate change education in the national curriculum and other education policies.

Emphasis will be placed on activities related to overcoming barriers in access to quality inclusive education, as well as creation of quality and inclusive tools and learning resources. In addition, UNICEF and the Ministry will cooperate on staff training and strengthening of the capacities of teachers in elementary and secondary schools, reads the press release. 

Photo: Ministry of Education and Science