The OSCE Mission to Skopje, together with the Ministry of Education and Science, awarded grants to 14 schools across North Macedonia that will support the implementation of joint curriculum classes - classes which pair teachers to instruct integrated classes in two languages as a means to foster exchange between different ethnic communities.
"This marks the beginning of a new joint undertaking that will extend over several years, bringing about significant and positive changes in public educational institutions and municipalities nationwide," said the Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, Ambassador Kilian Wahl.
The huge response to the call for applications has shown the widespread ambition for schools to go the extra mile to foster ethnic integration and understanding by teaming up with other monolingual schools to offer these integrated classes. In Kumanovo, for example, the Faik Konica Slupcane Kumanovo Primary School is partnering with the Magdalena Antonova Primary School located 13 kilometres away. The partnering of three primary schools, the 25 Maj, Bane Krapchev, and Naum Naumovski Borche schools in Gazi Baba, provides another example of the will to work together despite physical distance.
Highlighting the spirit of collaboration and partnership in realizing this project, Minister of Education and Science Jeton Shaqiri said, "thank you to the OSCE Mission to Skopje, which under the management of Ambassador Wahl has gained a new impulse, especially in terms of building a peaceful, safe and harmonic environment in schools."
The Mission is also awarding five grants to civil society organizations (CSOs) that work to bring children and young people from diverse ethnic backgrounds together. One such grant is being awarded to the CSO Sumnal, which will use the funds to work with schools in Bitola to overcome discrimination against the Roma community through a series of art workshops.
"I am impressed by the proposed activity portfolio. I see willingness, creativity and concrete commitment for advancing the relations between the new generations," stated Minister Shaqiri.
The grants are part of a longer term vision to support unity and integration across the country.
The Building New Bridges project will issue further calls for grant applications in autumn 2023.
"We are confident that we can make a positive impact on the lives of young people from diverse backgrounds and help create a more inclusive and prosperous future for all in North Macedonia," concluded Ambassador Wahl.
