-Website availability:
· https://www.mcgo.org.mk/publications/
-Title: Activities of the Center for Vocational Education and Training (CVET) in developing democratic competencies among teachers and students and cooperation of CVET with non-governmental organizations (eg: MCGO) in the context of developing a democratic culture in secondary vocational schools, through trainings, seminars, publications and manuals.
-Country: North Macedonia
-Topics/areas (please tick off the one(s) relevant to the example):
ü Assessment and quality assurance
ü Initial and continuing VET teacher training
ü Implementing Competences for Democratic Culture (CDC) in VET schools
ü Leaners’ voice and participation
Key information:
-Intensity (time allocated to the activity):
In terms of intensity, the activities carried out by the Center for Vocational Education and Training are related to the reforms that have been taking place for the last few years. It is significant to mention that CVET worked intensively on reforming the curricula for VET education, whereby the competences for democratic culture were included in the curricula. At the same time, it is significant to mention that CVET published a national standard of competencies for counsellors who evaluate the teaching process in VET centres, which also includes democratic competencies.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RyFeyBpRehgOxzBUJIyI5dKnl_tydRHH/view
Apart from CVET, many non-governmental organizations support formal and informal education in VET. One of them is the MCGO organization which has published countless publications covering democratic learning. (https://www.mcgo.org.mk/publications/)
-Focus (what does it aim to achieve):
The goal is to raise awareness on the competences for democratic culture among teachers, educators and students, given that North. Macedonia is a multi-ethnic country that tries to respect differences and nurture coexistence.
-Place of activity (VET school-based or enterprise-based):
Most of the cases VET schools are involved and recognized as a place of activities.
-When was it introduced:
It was introduced in 2020.
-Impact (if evaluated):
The evaluation process in VET schools is done continuously in several ways: through self-evaluation by the school centre itself, by the State Education Inspectorate, by counsellors from the Vocational Education and Training Center and counsellors from the Education Development Bureau.
Reflections/lessons learnt:
Through the process of raising awareness on the competences for democratic culture among teachers, and through them also the students, the entire system in the country is helped, the ethos in the school is improved, mutual trust is created between all interested parties and a democratic climate is ensured in all segments of society.
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Apart from the involvement of CVET in raising the competences for democratic culture, it is especially important to point out that in N. Macedonia, educational institutions cultivate a special relationship and cooperation with non-governmental organizations, such as MCGO (https://www.mcgo.org.mk). MCGO works dedicatedly in the field of raising democratic competences and as a result of their work it can be said that they have not only published countless democracy training guides, but they are also creators of civic education manuals. Here are some of the publications: https://www.mcgo.org.mk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/start_the_change_workshop_collection_2021.pdf https://www.mcgo.org.mk/pub/Praktikum_za_multikulturno_ucenje_MK.pdf https://www.mcgo.org.mk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Broshura-Gragansko-obrazovanie-za-sredno-MK.pdf It is no less significant that MCGO implemented the USAID Youth Ethnic Integration Project from April 2017 to April 2022, which covered all schools in the country, including VET schools. The project itself took place in several components. Component 1: Strengthening Interethnic Cohesion in the Education System Through continuous cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science, key educational institutions, the project fosters opportunities for interaction among schools from different communities and create better ethnic cohesion among youth. In partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science, the project supports changes to the civic education contents and introduces methods to promote active involvement of students in school and community decision-making processes. As an incentive for schools to participate in project activities for improving interethnic cohesion and developing democratic and civic values and behaviours among youth, the project renovates school buildings (e.g. classrooms) and improves learning conditions. For more information, case studies, videos, etc, visit the following link: |