STRATEGIC, CONCEPTUAL, AND SYSTEMIC CHANGES IN PRIMARY EDUCATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA (STATES AND PERSPECTIVES)

Abstract

The global social changes that dictate novelties in the educational system are undoubtedly part of the Macedonian social and educational climate. Jn recent decades, the need for finding new and suitable solutions that will follow the contemporary trends and directions in thefield of education, is noticeable. Theory and practice move towards creating various strategies, materials and documents, which will give their contribution for this tendency. The world organizations (UNESCO, UNICEF, The European Council, The European Committee, etc.), which are interested in the field of education, are becoming more numerous and louder in their proposals for goals, principles, directions and recommendations that should represent the foundation for a new order in education.
In the attempt to keep up pace, the Republic of Macedonia is creating national documents in order to set up its own education. The most recent document is the National Program for the Development of Education of the Republic of Macedonia 2005-2015, with additional program documents, published in 2004 by the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Macedonia. This significant strategic document refers to the goals, challenges, national educational vision, mission, values, principles and key areas for intervention. A plan has been made about the way in which one of the more significant global educational goals can be accomplished, and that is education for everybody, how to advance one's intellectual growth and learning, increasing the chances for participation, as well as the opportunities to increase the competitiveness of the Macedonian society.
Yet the key issue in this work refers to the real state of our education, i. e. how, after almost one decade, everything that is strategically and conceptually set on a theoretical level, can find successful application in the everyday educational practice.