Validation of non-formal and informal learning (VNFIL) in North Macedonia

While North Macedonia’s VNFIL system is still in a developmental stage, promising small-scale pilot validation activities, the adoption of the concept for Regional VET Centres (RVETCs) and the draft new laws on adult education and the national qualifications framework (NQF) provide a good basis for further growth.

North Macedonia identifying VNFIL development as a pillar in the country’s strategy for education (2018-25) shows a recognition of VNFIL’s key role in enhancing mobility within the education system and the labour market. The implementation of VNFIL would benefit multiple sectors but also such policy areas as the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan.

Although significant systems developments are still forthcoming, North Macedonia’s draft law on NQF and Adult Education (AE) established a definition for VNFIL, postulating that VNFIL will be possible for all qualifications in both formal and non-formal sectors of education up to NQF level 5B (equivalent to EQF Level 5), including formal primary education, secondary education and IVET, postsecondary education as well as adult education and non-formal CVET. Building on pockets of small-scale pilot activities for validation processes, more significant developments are expected in the coming years such as establishing further RVETCs and policy discussions around identifying priority areas and target groups for VNFIL.

Although North Macedonia is undertaking complex tasks in this forthcoming period, there are also opportunities that can bolster this work. For example, extending the draft legislation to define validation models for the general-education part of formal VET qualifications would further enhance the strategic goal of enhancing mobility. As the RVET Centres have the potential to develop into hubs of good practice for validation arrangements, establishing mechanisms to support sharing learnings would be beneficial. As the country’s VNFIL system matures over the next decade, a continuously developing quality assurance system would also provide critical support for a firm grounding.