Primary education in the Republic of North Macedonia is organised as a unified system that integrates primary and lower secondary education within a nine-year primary school structure. The nine-year primary education model was introduced in 2007 as part of a broader reform of the national education system. Primary education is compulsory for all children aged six to fifteen.

Education at this level is guaranteed by the Constitution and relevant legislation as free of charge and accessible to all children under equal conditions. To support equal participation, the state provides free textbooks for all pupils. In addition, free transportation is ensured for students who live more than two kilometres from the school they attend.

Primary schools may be established by municipalities or by the state. Municipalities are responsible for establishing and maintaining primary schools within their territory in order to ensure access to education for all children of school age. The Government may establish specific primary schools or resource centres that provide education for children of particular national interest, including pupils with special educational needs or those attending international primary schools.

The state is also responsible for organising and providing primary education for adults who did not complete compulsory schooling, in accordance with the Law on Adult Education.

Legislation and legal basis

According to the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia (Articles 44–48), primary education is accessible to everyone under equal conditions and is compulsory and free of charge. The Constitution also stipulates that education is a public service and guarantees equal access to education for all citizens. In accordance with Article 45, primary education is organised as a public service and private primary schools are generally not recognised within the compulsory education system.

The establishment, organisation and functioning of primary education are regulated by the Law on Primary Education (2019), which represents the main legal framework governing this level of education. The implementation of the law is further supported by several key policy documents, including the Concept for Primary Education (2021) and the National Standards for Students’ Achievement in Primary Education (2021).

Amendments to the Law on Primary Education were adopted at the beginning of 2025, introducing adjustments related to the organisation of teaching, inclusive education measures and the implementation of the Concept for Primary Education. The consolidated version of the Law is publicly available through the national legislative database.

In addition, amendments to the Concept for Primary Education were adopted at the end of 2024 following a public consultation process. Based on the proposals received during the consultation, the Bureau for Development of Education revised and improved the content of the Concept. The amendments reintroduced the scientific disciplines of history, geography, biology, physics and chemistry as separate subjects in the third educational period of primary education (grades 7–9). As a result of these changes, a new Curriculum for Primary Education and new subject curricula for the relevant subjects will be developed and gradually introduced starting from the 2025/2026 school year and continuing in the following two school years.

The Law on Primary Education defines the fundamental principles of the primary education system in its general provisions. These include the principles of equality and non-discrimination, affirmative measures, the goals of primary education, compulsory attendance and the organisation of educational periods, languages of instruction, inclusive education, and the education of children with special educational needs. The law also regulates the education of children of Macedonian citizens residing abroad, children without residence status, children with chronic diseases, education in hospitals and detention institutions, as well as the work of schools with resource centres and centres for support of children with special educational needs.

The Law further regulates several key areas through specific chapters, including: the establishment and termination of primary schools, programmes and educational work, organisation of teaching, student enrolment procedures, rights and obligations of students, employment and professional requirements for staff, pedagogical documentation and data collection, governance and management of schools, quality assurance and evaluation mechanisms, assessment of students’ achievements and progress, recognition and equivalence of diplomas acquired abroad, financing of primary education, supervision and inspection, and penalty provisions.

In addition to the Law on Primary Education, several other laws are relevant for the implementation and functioning of primary education. These include the Law on the Bureau for Development of Education, Law on the Pedagogical Service, Law on Pupils’ Standard, Law on Textbooks in Primary and Secondary Education, Law on Adult Education, Law on the Educational Inspectorate, Law on the National Examination Centre, Law on Teachers and Professional Associates in Primary and Secondary Schools, and the Law on the National Qualifications Framework.

Basic school objectives

The objectives of primary education are defined in Article 7 of the Law on Primary Education and aim to ensure the comprehensive development of students and their preparation for active participation in society.

Primary education aims to ensure full inclusion of all students in the educational process and to respond to their diverse needs by enabling meaningful participation in learning activities. The system promotes the cognitive, socio-emotional and psychomotor development of students in accordance with their developmental characteristics, potentials and interests.

Another key objective is the achievement of national standards for student achievement in areas such as language literacy, learning foreign languages, mathematics, natural sciences and technology, digital literacy, personal and social development, democratic culture and citizenship, entrepreneurship and financial literacy, as well as artistic expression, culture and multiculturalism.

Primary education also aims to develop students’ self-confidence, awareness of their individuality and responsibility for their actions, while fostering respect for diversity, cooperation and fundamental human rights and freedoms.

Special emphasis is placed on the development of literacy and communication skills in the Macedonian language and its Cyrillic alphabet, as well as in the languages of the communities whose language and alphabet differ from Macedonian. In addition, the system promotes awareness of belonging to the Republic of North Macedonia while nurturing national, civic, ethnic and cultural identity.

The objectives further include preparing students for responsible life in a democratic society, developing research, experimentation and problem-solving skills, acquiring general and applicable knowledge and competences needed for everyday life and further education, and promoting lifelong learning.

The system also provides support for talented and gifted students, promotes healthy lifestyles, and develops students’ responsibility for their own health and for the protection of the environment.

Learning outcomes and knowledge standards for individual subjects are defined in the subject curricula and annual teaching plans, which are developed by the Bureau for Development of Education and adopted by the Minister of Education and Science.

Support measures for learners from Ukraine in school education

Following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, a limited number of Ukrainian citizens temporarily stayed in the Republic of North Macedonia. According to unofficial estimates from May 2022, around 1,000 Ukrainian refugees were present in the country, of whom approximately 25% (around 250) were school-aged children and young people.

Foreign nationals are generally allowed to stay in the country for up to three months as tourists. For longer stays, they may apply for temporary residence for humanitarian reasons under the Law on Foreigners, which allows them to remain in the country for up to one year. However, such residence status does not automatically grant access to full state assistance.

According to Article 13 of the Law on Primary Education, children with foreign citizenship or stateless children, refugee children, asylum seekers, children with recognised refugee status, children under subsidiary protection and children under temporary protection residing in the Republic of North Macedonia have the right to primary education under equal conditions as children who are citizens of the country.

For these students, schools organise additional Macedonian language instruction and learning of the Cyrillic alphabet, as well as programmes for compensatory learning in certain subjects. These support programmes must last at least one year and are prepared by the Bureau for Development of Education and approved by the Minister of Education and Science.

The Law on Primary Education also regulates the possibility of conditional enrolment when the recognition procedure for educational documents obtained abroad has not yet been completed. In such cases, students may temporarily attend the next grade until the recognition procedure is finalised. If the recognised level of education corresponds to a lower grade, the student is subsequently placed in the appropriate grade.

Currently, there are no centralised national measures for establishing Ukrainian classes or supporting distance learning for Ukrainian students, although schools may provide organisational support where necessary.