2026 

Development of the Concept for General Secondary Education

Status: Adopted (2026)

Strategy / policy background
The reform supports the modernisation of general secondary education and strengthening competence-based learning.

Description of the main measures
The Ministry of Education and Science (Министерство за образование и наука) adopted a new Concept for General Secondary Education aimed at modernising curricula and ensuring that the educational offer is aligned with national standards for student achievement and European trends.

Expected effects
The reform supports curriculum modernisation and the transition towards a more flexible and competence-based education system.

Sources
Ministry of Education and Science (Министерство за образование и наука).

2025 

Curriculum reforms, teacher training and strengthening inclusive education

Status: Ongoing / Adopted

Strategy / policy background
The reforms support the implementation of the national curriculum reform based on the Concept for Primary Education (Концепција за основно образование).

Description of the main measures
Amendments to the Concept for Primary Education enabled the reintroduction of scientific disciplines (history, geography, biology, physics and chemistry) as separate subjects in grades 7–9, with the gradual introduction of new subject curricula starting from the 2025/2026 school year.

Large-scale teacher training programmes were implemented to support the introduction of the new curricula. A total of 5,230 teachers were trained to deliver lessons in accordance with the new subject programmes for grade VII.

Additional reforms focused on strengthening inclusive education through improved support services, the engagement of educational assistants and the development of bylaws regulating inclusive teams, educational assistance and student assessment under individual education plans.

Further policy developments also focused on improving the quality of textbooks and teaching materials through the development of a Concept for Textbook Development and a Methodology for Textbook Evaluation, aligned with the national standards for student achievement.

2024 

Improving infrastructure and strengthening the education system

Status: Ongoing / Implemented

Strategy / policy background
The reform process continued to be guided by the Education Strategy 2018–2025, focusing on infrastructure, inclusive education and vocational training.

Description of the main measures
Reconstruction works were completed in several vocational education institutions, including the Regional Centre for Vocational Education and Training “Vancho Pitošeski” in Ohrid, while reconstruction activities continued in other schools.

The Government adopted decisions to establish two new regional vocational education centres in Strumica and Veles, aimed at strengthening the regional network of vocational education and training institutions.

Participation in dual education programmes also increased. In the 2024/2025 school year, 7,075 places were available in 283 dual education classes, accompanied by scholarship schemes to support students in vocational education programmes.

The reform process continued to be guided by the Education Strategy 2018–2025, which promotes inclusive education, improved learning outcomes and strengthened teacher competences.