Methodology for reallocation of municipal budgets to primary schools

DURATION: 2019/20

DONOR: Foundation Open Society – Macedonia

In order to obtain a comprehensive picture of the conditions and needs in each researched school, within the project, meetings were held and survey questionnaires were filled out by competent persons in schools from the ten investigated municipalities: Vasilevo, Veles, Karbinci, Kumanovo, Saraj, Staro Nagoricane, Studenichani, Centar Župa, Čučer Sandevo and Šuto Orizari, as well as the parents of students attending classes in the researched schools. The purpose of the meetings was to determine the infrastructural and technical-technological situation in primary schools, the financing of capital investments, as well as the way in which it is decided what part of the budget will be allocated to each individual primary school. During the analysis, municipalities of different sizes, geographical location, urban-rural ratio, different ethnic composition and language of teaching were covered.

The knowledge from the above-mentioned activities enabled the creation of a comprehensive view of the current situation in schools in terms of infrastructure, technical-technological equipment and visual teaching aids. At the same time, it was possible to identify the priority projects, as well as the needs for their financing. As a result of this, action plans have been made for the realization of the mentioned investments. The analysis is rounded off by determining the current situation with the financing of primary education by the central and local governments. This information is the basis for the proposed approach to determine the methodology and formula by which the financing of primary education will be transparent, fair and will enable balanced and sustainable development of all primary schools.

Through the use of different approaches to data collection – surveys, direct visits and meetings with municipalities, schools and parents, we managed to collect comprehensive data on the conditions in schools, their technological capacities, as well as the basic needs for the smooth running of teaching. Furthermore, the data were processed and analyzed based on a predetermined methodology that was developed within the projects: “Infrastructure and balanced development in primary schools in Macedonia” and “Activities to improve the infrastructural and technical-technological capacities of primary schools in Ceshinovo- Oblesevo and Bogdanci”