Source
The filled-in statistical questionnaires by the observation units at the beginning of the school year (UOP, UOVP and USP).
Reporting unit
Reporting unit is each primary and lower secondary or upper secondary school verified by the Ministry of Education and Science that is carrying out education while the statistical survey is in progress.
Coverage
All types of primary and lower secondary schools (regular, special, adult schools and primary and lower secondary schools for adults) and all types of upper secondary schools (regular, special, and upper secondary religious schools) at the beginning of the school year with reference date 30.09 are covered.
Data on enrolled students in the academic year 2016/2017 for the first time include data on private primary schools in the Republic of North Macedonia.
Definitions:
A school is an organization or pedagogical-educational unit that is carrying out education of a definite type, according to a defined educational plan or program, with one or more teachers, irrespective of whether it is independent or under the management of other administration. Each geographically dislocated unit is considered to be an observation unit, too.
The main aim of the primary and lower secondary education in the Republic of North Macedonia is providing general education and preparing the students for further general or vocational education at the next level. According to the Law on Primary and Lower Secondary Education (Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia No. 161/2019 and 229/2020), the primary and lower secondary education in the Republic of North Macedonia lasts 9 years and it is compulsory and free of charge. The typical age of the students is from 6 to 14 or 15. Primary and lower secondary schools are: the regular primary and lower secondary schools, which can be independent or local; special primary and lower secondary schools - for the students with intellectual and physical disabilities; adult schools which allow the students older than 15 years of age to complete their general education.
The upper secondary education allows obtaining knowledge and developing the skills for the labor market, and it also prepares students for further education at the next level. According to the Law (Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia No. 229/2020), the upper secondary education is carried out through educational plans and programs as: general - gymnasium education, vocational upper secondary education, art upper secondary education and special upper secondary education. The gymnasium and art upper secondary education last 4 years, and the vocational upper secondary education lasts 3 or 4 years where the students can decide on one of the offered professions. Besides these types of education, there is also religious upper secondary education in our country that lasts 4 or 5 years. The typical age of the students in the upper secondary education is from 14 or 15 to 18 or 19. The upper secondary education is carried out in the upper secondary schools that are organized as public or private schools.