Skopje, 27 April 2026 (MIA) – Ministry of Education and Science is intensifying the implementation of education reforms. In accordance with the reform agenda, by December 2026, we have obligation to reach the number of 700 companies included in the dual education. That number has already been exceeded, with more than 800 companies now engaged in providing students with practical training directly at employers’ premises. This figure is expected to grow further, as companies recognize the benefit of participating in the quality education of skilled workers tailored to their needs, Education Minister Vesna Janevska said Monday.

As Janevska stated in her address on the occasion of the awarding of the €500,000 grant to Goce Delchev University in Shtip, the Koco Racin school from Sveti Nikole, and three companies, students also recognize the advantage of entering the labour market or higher education equipped not only with theoretical knowledge, but also with practical skills gained in real workplace settings.

“That is why the number of students in dual education classes in secondary vocational schools is increasing year by year. Sixty-six percent of secondary school students are enrolled in vocational education. Of these, around 30 percent are enrolled in dual education. The interest of companies in increasing these numbers is clear, they need qualified workers who know how to operate equipment and are familiar with technology. With the new Law on Higher Education, which will soon be before MPs, there is a provision allowing practical teaching within mandatory subjects, in fields where it is applicable, to be carried out as dual education under the mentorship of professionals from the real sector and a mentor from the relevant study programme at the university. This amendment is in line with the European understanding of vocational education not only as a response to skills shortages and labour market mismatches, but also as a driver of social inclusion, digital transformation, territorial cohesion and long-term societal resilience,” she said.

She expressed satisfaction that the education sector and the business community continue to create opportunities for young people and to build competitive human capital.

“With the support of our international partners - the German and Swiss governments through the Regional Challenge Fund, the Faculty of Agriculture at Goce Delchev University in Shtip and the secondary school Koco Racin in Sveti Nikole, together with six companies, are receiving a grant of nearly €500,000 for the implementation of the project ‘Smart Training in the Processing of Dairy and Meat Products.’ A modern training centre for milk and meat processing will be built and equipped, and curricula and learning materials will be developed, supporting two qualifications: milk processor and meat and meat products processor. In Macedonia, we proudly speak about the success of the dual education model within secondary vocational education. This grant reflects all its good practices: the possibility of partnerships between secondary schools and universities, the active role of companies, involvement of chambers of commerce, practical training of students with mentors, as well as cooperation with international partners. The shared goal is to directly address structural labour market challenges such as youth unemployment and skills shortages, as well as to increase the competitiveness of local companies,” Janevska said.

The event was also attended by the Economic Chamber president Branko Azeski, German Ambassador Petra Drexler, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland Michal Harari, Director of the German Development Bank (KfW) for North Macedonia and Kosovo Moritz Remé as well as project coordinator of the Regional Challenge Fund Balsa Culafic.

The Regional Challenge Fund (RCF) is a financing facility designed to increase youth employability and boost the competitiveness of enterprises in Western Balkan 6 by funding investments in selected cooperative training projects that are implemented through partnerships between vocational training institutes and the enterprises. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development commissioned €73.4 million for the RCF, and the Swiss Government, represented by the SDC Swiss Development Cooperation, co-financed an additional €10 million. The funds were commissioned to the KfW Development Bank and executed by the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6-CIF), a joint initiative of chambers of commerce from the region. The Fund is implemented by consulting consortia. After four open calls, the Regional Challenge Fund will support 17 projects involving 91 partner companies in North Macedonia, worth a total of €7.63 million. In the fourth call, 187 expressions of interest were received from Western Balkan countries, including 14 from North Macedonia. The selection committee approved funding for one project from North Macedonia worth €495,350.

Photo: MIA