PRIMARY EDUCATION

The Law on Primary Education (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 44/95 from 20.09.1995), prescribed primary education in duration of eight years, compulsory for all children from 7 to 15 years of age.

With the changes and amendments to the Law on Primary Education (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 63/04 from 20.09.2004) primary education became compulsory for all children as a rule from 6 – 15 years of age and included: preparatory year, four years of grade teaching and four years of subject teaching.

With the Law on changes and amendments to the Law on Primary Education (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 51 from 24.05.2007) primary education is compulsory for all children from 6 – 15 years of age. Primary education lasts for 9 years and is organized in three periods.

SECONDARY EDUCATION

Secondary education, in accordance with the Law on Secondary Education (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 44/95 from 20.09.1995), is implemented based on study plans and programs for: gymnasium, vocational, secondary art education and secondary education for students with special educational needs. The secondary education enables the students to acquire knowledge and develop skills for work and further education. Gymnasium and secondary art education last for four years, while secondary vocational education lasts either 3 or 4 years. Vocational education and training may also be implemented according to study plans and programs for two-year vocational training.

With the Law on changes and amendments to the Law on Secondary Education (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 49 from 18.04.2007) secondary education is compulsory for every citizen under equal conditions defined by the Law. In accordance with this Law secondary education in public schools is provided free of charge.

HIGHER EDUCATION

In accordance with the Law on Higher Education (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 64/2000 from 03.08.2000) higher education institutions in the Republic of Macedonia offer undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral studies, continuous education and studies for increasing, deepening or broadening of certain areas of knowledge.

Graduate studies at the universities (faculties), in accordance with the changes and amendments to the Law on Higher Education (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 44 from 25.07.2005), last at least three and at most five years. Graduate studies at higher vocational schools last maximum three years.

Postgraduate studies are organized as postgraduate science or arts studies (Master’s degree) and postgraduate expert studies (specialist studies). Postgraduate science or arts studies last at least three semesters, out of which two are focused on classes and one on preparation of the master thesis. Postgraduate specialist studies last for nine months, out of which one semester is focused on classes and three months on preparation of the specialist thesis.

The highest doctor’s degree can be acquired by attending doctoral studies and defense of a doctoral dissertation or by registration and defense of a doctoral dissertation. Doctoral studies last for a minimum of two years. Undergraduate and postgraduate studies are organized in accordance with the European credit transfer system (ECTS). The procedure for adoption of the new Law on Higher Education in accordance with the principles and criteria of the Bologna Declaration is in process of implementation.