Standards for Intercultural Education in North Macedonia: Fostering Global Citizenship and Inclusive Societies

This paper discusses the creation and implementation of the first Standards for Intercultural Education in North Macedonia, which are applicable throughout the entire primary school level. Although The National Education Program, i.e., The Comprehensive Strategy for Education and Action Plan 2018-2025 of North Macedonia, addresses the importance of ensuring quality control of the educational process, until 2021, no standards existed for both primary and secondary education in the country. The existence of intercultural standards should play a crucial role in fostering inclusive societies and preparing young individuals to navigate diverse global environments. Given that active citizenship and inclusion are the fundamental values of the EU, the drafting and ratification of these standards in the country was prioritized as the cornerstone of promoting multiculturalism and intercultural integration. The paper gives an overview of the national and international documents that have been used as the foundation in the drafting of these standards. The way in which these standards have been created, and the pedagogical and didactical principles upon which they were organized will be discussed. The paper aims to highlight the key principles and practices of intercultural education as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the approved standards in North Macedonia. Through the analysis of those standards and the practical samples provided, this paper underscores the importance of intercultural education standards in the country but also in promoting inclusive societies, enhancing cultural awareness, and preparing individuals to thrive in an interconnected world, thus hopefully reducing stereotypes, prejudices, and even radicalization.