HIGH TIME FOR IMPLEMENTATION

If implemented correctly, the Integrated Education Strategy will eventually divert negative trends in the society and the state 

The Macedonian society experiences a painful process of fragmentation and ethnic segregation, which is as damaging as visible in the process of education. Ethnic communities are divided, have poor or no knowledge about each other, and look over the ethnic fences with fear, prejudices and hate. Indeed, the ongoing process of ethnic division at official educational system’s level is highly damaging and dangerous for the future of the country as a whole. It intensely affects democracy, human rights, security and the overall development of the country.

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (OSCE HCNM) worked on creation of the Integrated Education Strategy based on country’s needs and composition. After a series of negotiations and modifications, the Strategy has been adopted by the Macedonian Ministry of Education (end of 2010). The Strategy, as it is adopted, provides solid basis to stop and revert degrading process in the society through improvements in the education system, dealing with the most sensitive aspects of the education system.

If implemented correctly, the Integrated Education Strategy will eventually divert negative trends in the society and the state. Therefore, Civil is highly motivated to take the opportunity to contribute to healing of the Macedonian society through successful implementation of this important document.
The slow start of the Strategy’s implementation is an additional reason that we, in Civil, decided to take an initiative and support the MoE and all other relevant stakeholders in this process. Our approach is positive and proactive, and will set a positive example for all parties involved in this important process.  But, despite our attempts to offer our support and expertise in this area, the Ministry of Education remains silent after over a year of our written expressions of interest and proposals for action in this area.
During the last visit in April 2012, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM), Knut Vollebaek, called on the government of FYROM to work in a meaningful and efficient way in the direction of the amelioration of the interethnic relations in the country “before it is too late”. The Commissioner Vollebaek also noted that the government of FYROM must ask itself if the necessary conditions and opportunities have been created in the country for the various ethnicities to communicate and live together in harmony.
“I hope that the government considers the interethnic relations to be an important issue. But I am not sure that the energy they put into the matter is serious or sufficient”, added Mr. Vollebaek and sent a plea to all the political players of FYROM to face matters that concern interethnic relations with a sense of responsibility.
Integrated education is based on the principle that by bringing pupils from different ethnic backgrounds together in a shared learning environment, they can learn to understand, respect and accept each other. Integrated education is an education system that does not assimilate or separate pupils, but rather tries to reconcile the two goals I mentioned earlier, namely societal cohesion and individual identity, by providing a space for children to meet and learn how to understand and respect different cultures, languages and traditions.
“The strategy for integrated education represents a long-term commitment to ensuring that the country’s education system bridges the ethnic gap between the communities and, indeed, fosters integration of the society,” Vollebaek said in one of his communiqués.
It’s the turn of the government now. It only takes political will to set things right. There will be no credible excuse for a failure in this sphere. Consequences may be devastating.

Compiled by the Civil team