INTERCULTURAL EDUCATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA: AN ARRENA OF CONFLICTING NARRATIVES
INTERCULTURAL EDUCATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA: AN ARRENA OF CONFLICTING NARRATIVES

Summary/Abstract: The primary focus of this paper is placed on education in the multicultural context of the Republic of Macedonia. This paper focuses on higher education in the country, and the level of implementation of requirements brought about by the Ohrid Framework Agreement (OFA). The higher education circumstances are also brought into correlation with the educational aspects at both primary and secondary schools in the Republic of Macedonia. In the country, “mixed” schools are perceived as arenas with more frequent interethnic conflicts and higher level of stereotypes and prejudices. Teachers, parents and even pupils are ambivalent when it comes to direct contact. They believe that interaction is a source of interethnic tensions and conflicts with ethnic dimension. Yet at the same time, they are aware that interaction is the best way for pupils to get to know each other and learn to function together. Examples from the author’s experience in working on several projects regarding interethnic integration in education and intercultural competence will be used in the discussion of the subject matter. Additionally, this work will look at the legal frame referring to the education in Macedonia and see how it organizes the objectives and outcomes in respect to some general values, such as cultural diversity, creativity, democratization of culture.

• Details
• Contents