Education: Macedonia 2035 – the view from Mavrovo

Since I arrived in Macedonia, many people have spoken to me (usually with enthusiasm, though sometimes rather wistfully) about the role of Wilton Park in 2008 in helping to establish parliamentary procedures here. I have often been asked why we haven’t, given the success of the 2008 conference, done more Wilton Park events for Macedonia.

So with the Embassy team, we set about thinking what topics might benefit from the ‘Wilton Park treatment’. Wilton Park is globally known for its excellent series of conferences and for its capacity to encourage debate and dialogue on international and national policy questions.

There must be room in any democracy for all political stakeholders to debate policy. That is the best way to encourage challenge and to generate creativity, both key ingredients of good policy. It shouldn’t be unusual for parties to come together to develop policies on issues of national interest.

So we approached Wilton Park to see what they could do in the field of Education, where everyone has a view. Wilton Park’s resultant workshop looked at long-term vision on education in Macedonia. The workshop, which took place over the weekend of 28-30 November in Mavrovo, offered an opportunity for brainstorming and detailed exchanges on the type of educational system Macedonia will need 20 years from now.

Participants came from political parties across the spectrum from both government and opposition, from academic institutions and from international institutions in Macedonia. Also injecting his wisdom and experience was Robert Ferguson of the Institute of Education at the University of London.

This ad-hoc event, outside the established framework for policy development, this was extremely productive. There was strong consensus among participants that the Vision agreed during the workshop was only achieved because of the constructive and collaborative approach.

Wilton Park’s report includes the eight points for Macedonia’s education which form the Vision. It is available on their website at http://bit.ly/16dPFbg. I hope you’ll take five minutes to read it, and like us find it interesting and relevant. As father of five children, some of them about to launch themselves on the jobs market, I can see at first hand the link between education and the economy. But I strongly believe that anyone with an interest in the future of Macedonia,  teachers, parents, journalists, politicians, carpenters, everyone, will find it interesting. Having a strategic vision for Education is one of the foundation stones of any successful country.

I am glad Wilton Park held this event in Macedonia. Yes, it was an informal setting, but I once again thank the participants for taking part with gusto. Any issue that results in a debate on developing a national strategy that overcomes party interest can only be positive. It shows that all sides can work together when they put national interest first.

Charles Garrett, British Ambassador