Who we are

The initiative to establish an organization that would include professionals working in the field of protection and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities was launched in the 1950s.
The organization was founded by merging several organizations of special educators and was called the Union of special educational and rehabilitational associations of the Republic of Macedonia. The first initiators for founding the organization are: Ph.D. Prof. Ljupco Ajdinski, Ph.D. Prof. Slavko Keramitchievski, Slavco Andreevski, Velichko Andreevski, Mira Velichkova and others.
The first president of this organization was Mr. Slavco Andreevski and then Mr. Slavko Keramitchievski. Presidents data have been available since 1979. The mandate of each of the Presidents is shown in the table below.

No.              President              Mandate
1. Nikola Chabukovski 24.11.1979-06.12.1980
2. Slavcho Andreevski 06.12.1980-13.02.1982
3. Ismet Kurtagikj 13.02.1982-14.03.1983
4. Ljupcho Pushkovski 14.03.1983-19.10.1984
5. Slavcho Keramitchievski 19.10.1984-12.06.1989
6. Mira Velichkova 12.06.1989-10.02.1995
7. Ljupcho Ajdinski 10.02.1995-19.10.1999
8. Elizabet Soltirova 19.10.1999-13.09.2004
9. Zoran Kitkanj 13.09.2004-11.04.2009
10. Goran Petrushev 11.04.2009 – current


Each of the Presidents of this organization has contributed to the realization of a variety of activities that are distributed in annual programs. Within this history will be highlighted the activities of programs that are of particular importance for laying the foundations of Special Education and Rehabilitation in R.Macedonia and the activities for promotion of this science. The first attempts at institutional protection of persons with disabilities in the Republic of Macedonia occurred sometime in the fifties of the 19th century. In the period 1948-1970 most of the special educators' activities were focused on opening institutions for people with disabilities and establishing special education and rehabilitation as a science in the Republic of Macedonia. In this period in the Republic of Macedonia no special educators have been educated, all ideas and working activities have been derived from the already qualified special educators in Belgrade or Zagreb.

In 1991, in October, the Association of special educators and rehabilitators of the Republic of Macedonia prepared a project proposal for establishment of a higher education institution for education of special education in the Republic of Macedonia, and submitted it to the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, to the Rectorate of the University "Ss. Cyril and Methodius University and the Ministry of Education and Physical Education. Until this period in the Republic of Macedonia, no special education and rehabilitation staff was educated. Namely, in December 1992, the Association applied a request to the Ministry of Education and Science for postgraduate studies in Special Education and Rehabilitation, in order to increase the number of Masters and Specialists in Special Education and Rehabilitation that would enable more educated professional Specialists in Special Education and Rehabilitation. In January 1995, the Association sends a request to the Ministry of Education and Science, for the purpose of employment of special educators in schools and institutions.

In March 1995, the Association applies for another request to the Ministry of Education and Science to register the profile of a special pedagogue for prevention and re-socialization of persons with social behavior disorder, as well as physical and mental development, which should be more properly regulated in laws and bylaws.

In March 1996, the Association launched a project to organize the treatment of autistic children. In September 1996, the Association met with Assistant Minister Ilija Rajchanovski regarding the employment of a special pedagogue for prevention and re-socialization, as well as a decision on granting scholarships for special education and rehabilitation staff in the Republic of Macedonia. The same year, in November, the Association signs an agreement with UNICEF to co-operate and maintain a Symposium on Detection, Diagnosis and Treatment. As a result of this collaboration from 5th to 8th of November a Symposium is being held in Struga.

The initiative to establish an organization that would include professionals working in the field of protection and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities was launched in the 1950s.
The organization was founded by merging several organizations of special educators and was called the Union of special educational and rehabilitational associations of the Republic of Macedonia. The first initiators for founding the organization are: Ph.D. Prof. Ljupco Ajdinski, Ph.D. Prof. Slavko Keramitchievski, Slavco Andreevski, Velichko Andreevski, Mira Velichkova and others.
The first president of this organization was Mr. Slavco Andreevski and then Mr. Slavko Keramitchievski. Presidents data have been available since 1979. The mandate of each of the Presidents is shown in the table below.

Each of the Presidents of this organization has contributed to the realization of a variety of activities that are distributed in annual programs. Within this history will be highlighted the activities of programs that are of particular importance for laying the foundations of Special Education and Rehabilitation in R.Macedonia and the activities for promotion of this science. The first attempts at institutional protection of persons with disabilities in the Republic of Macedonia occurred sometime in the fifties of the 19th century. In the period 1948-1970 most of the special educators' activities were focused on opening institutions for people with disabilities and establishing special education and rehabilitation as a science in the Republic of Macedonia. In this period in the Republic of Macedonia no special educators have been educated, all ideas and working activities have been derived from the already qualified special educators in Belgrade or Zagreb.

In 1991, in October, the Association of special educators and rehabilitators of the Republic of Macedonia prepared a project proposal for establishment of a higher education institution for education of special education in the Republic of Macedonia, and submitted it to the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, to the Rectorate of the University "Ss. Cyril and Methodius University and the Ministry of Education and Physical Education. Until this period in the Republic of Macedonia, no special education and rehabilitation staff was educated. Namely, in December 1992, the Association applied a request to the Ministry of Education and Science for postgraduate studies in Special Education and Rehabilitation, in order to increase the number of Masters and Specialists in Special Education and Rehabilitation that would enable more educated professional Specialists in Special Education and Rehabilitation. In January 1995, the Association sends a request to the Ministry of Education and Science, for the purpose of employment of special educators in schools and institutions.

In March 1995, the Association applies for another request to the Ministry of Education and Science to register the profile of a special pedagogue for prevention and re-socialization of persons with social behavior disorder, as well as physical and mental development, which should be more properly regulated in laws and bylaws.

In March 1996, the Association launched a project to organize the treatment of autistic children. In September 1996, the Association met with Assistant Minister Ilija Rajchanovski regarding the employment of a special pedagogue for prevention and re-socialization, as well as a decision on granting scholarships for special education and rehabilitation staff in the Republic of Macedonia. The same year, in November, the Association signs an agreement with UNICEF to co-operate and maintain a Symposium on Detection, Diagnosis and Treatment. As a result of this collaboration from 5th to 8th of November a Symposium is being held in Struga.

Who are we?

Association of special educators and rehabilitators of the Republic of North Macedonia

The Аssociation of special educators and rehabilitators of the Republic of North Macedonia is an non-governmental (NGO), professional and humanitarian organisation of citizens in which they voluntarily unite as special educators and rehabilitators, speech therapists, special (social) pedagogues and other professional profiles to work with persons with disabilities as well as with their parents and guardians.

The activities carried out by the Association of special educators and rehabilitators of the Republic of North Macedonia are the foundation of the future of the organization that will grow into a service provider by experts. The services of the experts will contribute to the success in the process of involving people with disabilities in all segments of the social environment.

The mission of the Аssociation of special educators and rehabilitators of the Republic of North Macedonia is to build capacities in the society, through which equal opportunities for social inclusion will be provided, primarily for children with disabilities. Accordingly, the organizational mission of this organization is reduced to the following sentence: "WE CREATE CONDITIONS FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES".