Computers and School Renovations Boost Macedonia’s Education
FrontLines - March 2009
Mission of the Month: Macedonia
By Biljana Velickovska and Corinne Dalenson
Challenge
In education performance, Macedonia lags behind other transition countries—those that changed from socialism to free market economies after 1990—international studies show.
Many schools have not been renovated for decades and do not provide students or teachers
with a good environment for learning and teaching. As Macedonia prepares to join the European Union, the education system needs major improvements, especially in infrastructure, access by minorities, and updated curricula.
Many students fail to find jobs after completing their education because their skills do not match the labor market requirements of the 21st century.
Innovative Response
To address these challenges,
USAID launched the Primary Education Project in October 2006, which directly engages teachers, parents, municipalities, and relevant ministries. The project identified
short- and long-term educational improvements: new teaching methods to stimulate critical thinking and problem solving; renovating schools; and expanding use of computers and the Internet.
Project organizers agreed that schools should stimulate young people, encourage discovery, and provide a safe and comfortable
environment.
Macedonian children benefit from an improved learning environment in renovated schools.
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Parents and teachers helped with classroom design and scheduling renovations. They decided to create "green schools" to encourage youth to develop and apply environmental
awareness. Municipalities took up the "green" banner to create cost-effective learning environments that use energy-efficient building materials to conserve resources while improving school quality.
To prepare students for the educational demands of the job market, USAID, with the Macedonia Ministry of Education, modernized the technical
education curriculum in primary
schools. Many teachers asked for increased access to Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in primary schools. USAID supplied new computers for the schools, educational software, and teacher training on ICT.
Results
To date, over 10,000 primary
school teachers have been trained in ICT, interactive
teaching, math, science, and assessment methods. Forty-six primary schools have been renovated, with an additional 80 planned within the next two years. Over 1,500 Roma students have received educational support, resulting in increased school retention and higher academic achievement.
USAID and the Macedonia Office of Defense Cooperation worked together to renovate four schools for children with special needs.
"Thanks to USAID, we received new windows for our classroom. I’m not cold and sick anymore and enjoy going to school," said Ana Georgieva, 14, a student at Vera Ciriviri Trena Primary School in Skopje.
Asen Prlickov, director of Vasil Glavinov Primary School in Veles, said: "The school greatly benefited from the project—we received 16 computers and 60 professors were trained on ICT. The kids do feel more comfortable in coming to school—the modern equipment helps them to be more focused. Classes are more interesting and interactive
for the children as the teachers are using new and creative methods of teaching."
By 2011, USAID plans to have renovated one-third of the primary schools in Macedonia, serving 80,000 students. The Agency will renovate
at least one school per municipality.
Interested in learning more about the project? Go to www.pep.org.mk. In addition, to see a short video highlighting the school improvement program go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC5gSJWy-Do. ★
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