Political and Economical Effects of Higher Education Reforms- Case of Macedonia (Critical Overview about the Law on Higher Education in Macedonia)

IJAEDU- International E-Journal of Advances in Education, Vol. I, Issue 2, August 2015 POLITICAL AND ECONOMICAL EFFECTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION REFORMS- CASE OF MACEDONIA (CRITICAL OVERVIEW ABOUT THE LAW ON HIGHER EDUCATION IN MACEDONIA) Besa Kadriu1* and Besime Mustafi2 1 PhD Assistant, Faculty of Public Administration and Political Sciences, South East European University, Macedonia, e-mail: , 2 PhD Candidate, Faculty of Business and Economics - Economics Department, South East European University, Macedonia, e-mail: *Corresponding author Abstract Education is becoming the most important tool in societies, taking into consideration that it is positive externality that benefits the all individuals in a society. Nowadays the debate is focused towards the ways how to improve quality of teaching in higher education market. There are tendencies in Macedonia to change the law for higher education and new reforms proposed by the state are unexpected from the whole citizens. These reforms seem to be unrealistic in actually economic conditions. Macedonia as a transition country do not have capacity to cover the cost of this reforms but this politic will finish with a political and economical chaotic results. In this research paper is considered the law and its impact on economic growth and social well being. Transition countries cannot compete in higher global education market with these kind of reforms it cannot be achieved. This scientific research will have a concrete approach and analysis of the law in question by exploring the expectations and priorities of law and side effects. First of all, there will be taken into account, expectations in terms of economic and role of institutions in decision-making process in this regard. Key elements that will have a base during the research are: Reforms in education and the impact on the economic sphere and effects of the law in this case, taking into consideration the arguments given by the state and adoption of the law and policy role of the actors in this case. We conclude that to gain the global higher education market first of all it is necessary sustainable economic development. This and a number of other elements will be key issues which will be taken into account during the study. Keywords: reform, education, law, economics, politics, government, policy. 1. INTRODUCTION We are all aware that based on historical perspective and in the context of proper functioning of a state and a society, together with the realization of rules by which it will have to function or be supported, even as a http://ijaedu.ocerintjournals.org 154 IJAEDU- International E-Journal of Advances in Education, Vol. I, Issue 2, August 2015 community or particular ethnicity within a society of civilized behavior must be written based on the norm. This experience was followed long ago, since ancient civilizations in the city states (relevant policy) with the tradition of 6000 years ago. This tradition tends even to this day, especially in those countries which have a mentality and higher level in view of civilization and democracy that relies on rates written form. It later turns out also because of handling problems, as points of sensitive, culminating in the process of creating what today we know as a system of norms or creation of legal acts. Obviously in this case, the greatest responsibility lies with the institutional actors who have questioned the biggest in the area of policy and automatically in this case, the legislative body parliament is calling precisely on the issue of formulation and adoption but also the highest legal acts as may be laws. This is part within the principles and frameworks which are also implemented to countries as recognized Macedonia, known as transition and reform process that has a tendency at the last time to make appropriate changes including education .This sphere also need to develop and for that are necessary real reforms in other areas of public services and education as a sphere has very delicate matter, but that happens often in conditions which the state puts in feature of this service and within which they must operate, and when the reforms will fast forward and out opportunities then of course arises in the case of Macedonia. There are many sentences that refer to the sphere of education among which this process will pass. I will focus to one of them, deal with the “Ideally, what should be said to every child, repeatedly, throughout his or her school life is something like this: 'You are in the process of being indoctrinated. We have not yet evolved a system of education that is not a system of indoctrination. We are sorry, but it is the best we can do. What you are being taught here is an amalgam of current prejudice and the choices of this particular culture. The slightest look at history will show how impermanent these must be. You are being taught by people who have been able to accommodate themselves to a regime of thought laid down by their predecessors. It is a self perpetuating system. Those of you who are more robust and individual than others will be encouraged to leave and find ways of educating yourself — educating your own judgments. Those that stay must remember, always, and all the time, that they are being molded and patterned to fit into the narrow and particular needs of this particular society.” Doris Lessing, the Golden Notebook. 1.1 Economical & Political Effects of Law in Education Macedonia as country in transition, from its independence 1991 applied a lot of reforms, both, political and economical. These reforms orient the country toward European Union. The reforms were more concentrated as the Country gain the status candidate for European Union in 2005. Education is a factor that seemed to be crucial in a society. All reforms form EU is oriented toward sustainable politics for financing education. Education has to be open equal to all. As education is as an engine that make the country to move on a lot of politicians in their programs promote education as a priority in their governance programs. As Macedonia is trying to be part of EU countries adopted a lot of reforms in education with the main aim to transform the country in European one. But sometimes the adopted reforms are not sufficient. As countries pursue policies designed to integrate their economies, political systems and social structures under a broader, more powerful Union, it is becoming increasingly clear that higher education, research and innovation are critical components to fully realizing the potential gains stemming from the changes a head (Harry et.al 2008). Education is becoming the most powerful engine of global growth and success. It is also considered an important tool that has a great impact on the level of the country’s development and growth. Public financing of education as investment is an economic issue well debated nowadays. The reforms in education has been more designed based on political reaso (...truncated)