Welcome to the twelfth issue of the Macedonia Schools Project (MSP) Newsletter, which consists of reports from teachers in Macedonia whose schools have received MSP grants. We find these personal thoughts from individuals who see every day the impact of our grants to be very rewarding and moving. We are motivated to increase our efforts, to reach out to even more schools. The reports from these teaches inspire us and tell us that our efforts to improve the educational experience for students and teachers in Macedonian schools are succeeding.
HONOURING A PARTNERSHIP THAT TRANSFORMS EDUCATION
By LILJANA VASILEVSKA, SCHOOL COORDINATOR
On the occasion of the 2025 grant from the Macedonia Schools Project (MSP), we wish to express our profound gratitude, both personally and on behalf of our school principal, Ms. Biljana Temelkova, to MSP for its outstanding commitment to improving educational conditions at our school, “Gjorgi Sugarev”, in Bitola.
This recognition was formally acknowledged during our annual School Patron’s Day celebration, held in May at the Cultural Center in Bitola. On that occasion, the principal delivered a special speech honouring MSP’s continued support and dedication to our students and our school community.
Liljana Vasilevska, Nezire Tairova, Biljana Temelkova
The warm and prolonged applause from a completely full auditorium spoke for itself, reflecting the deep respect and appreciation felt toward the Macedonia Schools Project.
Our collaboration with MSP began in 2021, when I, Liljana Vasilevska, the school coordinator, first established contact with the organisation, initially through the esteemed Ms. Vasja Jordanova. From that first encounter, a meaningful and impactful partnership began to develop.
Through MSP’s generous support, several classrooms have been fully equipped, beginning with those for our youngest students. Modern teaching aids and digital tools have enhanced student engagement, facilitated the learning process, and ensured equal access to quality educational resources for all students. Additional improvements, including the installation of climate control units, have significantly enhanced the overall learning environment.
Most recently, MSP’s support enabled the complete furnishing of two subject-specific classrooms—Mathematics and Biology—creating modern, student-centred spaces that foster academic achievement and student well-being.
We fully recognise the importance of high-quality classroom conditions for the physical, emotional, and intellectual development of students. For this reason, we extend our sincere and heartfelt appreciation to the Macedonia Schools Project for being a trusted partner in our mission to create lasting and positive change.
It is a great honour, pride, and privilege to be part of this collaboration and to contribute, together with MSP, to the continuous improvement of education in our school.
PRIMARY SCHOOL “VANCHO NIKOLESKI”
By VESNA TERZIOSKA, COUNSELOR
The Primary School “Vancho Nikoleski” is located in Leskoec, a village near Ohrid, and there are 257 students from 6 to 14 years, who are divided into 9 grades. We have two district schools in villages Kosel and Kuratica. We study according the stated programs by the Ministry of Education and Education Development Bureau. Our total staff is 55, 40 teachers, one principal, one pedagogue (counselor), one psychologist, one librarian, one secretary and 10 technical staff.
Our school was built in 1964 and became independent in 1995. Our school’s mission is to provide modern and quality education to all of our students and to develop students for their successful further education and integration into life in general. Accordingly the school strives to be a safe place for teaching and learning, a place for coexistence and organizing joint activities in the educational process of all ethnic communities in the community.
All of our students are Macedonians; we do not have students from other ethnic groups in our school, but we are involved in a project for interethnic integration in education, and we educate our students in the spirit of tolerance and coexistence.
The school has a lot of extracurricular activities, where pupils can use and develop their knowledge and skills in sport, ecology, art and culture, communication, democracy, intercultural education and learning, social dialogue, and care of the environment.
We have experience with Erasmus+ projects, as well as many local or national projects, and we are confident that we can integrate our knowledge in many more international projects. We are motivated by our everyday work with students, who are very creative and curious to be active and to get new skills and knowledge.
Cooperation with MSP has been ongoing since the very beginning in 2008, when MSP as an organization did not yet exist, but there was an idea and vision to support the school in order to improve the conditions for students. For 18 years, our school has been cooperating and receiving great support from MSP, and the following were purchased: blackboards, LCD projectors, laptop computers, computer equipment, equipment for the teaching of mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, televisions, and even more school equipment. Every year we perform an analysis of priorities, and based on that analysis, we prepare an application for MSP. With the help of the MSP, we also built a classroom in nature, thus providing for outdoor teaching for the students of our school. All these donations have helped to improve the working and learning conditions in our school, as well as improving the quality of teaching. Students and staff feel the benefits of these donations and apply them in everyday life at the school, striving to achieve better results.
THE COMPUTER CLASSROOM
With the 2025 MSP grant, we purchased: seven new personal computers with specifications appropriate for teaching needs, seven computer converters, four keyboards, one external drive, one color printer, two pieces of raw material for the 3D printer, with which students can create various shapes as part of regular and additional extracurricular activities with students within the 3D club.
With all these materials, the computer science classroom was equipped with appropriate computer equipment, ensuring quality teaching of computer science and other subjects for all students and grades.
According to the new concept that our education has adopted, interactive activities are planned in the lessons that include mandatory use of computers by students, both for various research purposes and for the application of new digital textbooks from the Ministry of Education. Now the computer science classroom equipped in this way is available to all other teachers who want to include the use of computers in their teaching. Also today, municipal and regional competitions in mathematics, natural sciences and biology are regularly held online and these computers are used for this as well.
The computer classroom has a 3D printer, a laser engraving machine and a plasticizing machine, purchased with the help of MSP. All these resources are used through various programs that support the new computers. The students are very motivated and interested in participating in the activities of the 3D club, using these machines in practice and creating various objects, very often exhibited at the bazaars organized by the school.
Our experience with the Macedonian Schools Project has been extensive so far, spanning many years, and we have successfully implemented all of the jointly planned activities together. Today MSP is a serious partner of Macedonian schools, providing better conditions for students and better quality teaching. I think that MSP has left a mark on Macedonian education, and with its humane and selfless mission, it is a positive example that should be followed. We are very grateful for our cooperation with MSP and we hope that it will continue in the future.
THE THREE COMPUTERS THAT OPENED OUR WORLD
By BLAGICA BRDAROVSKA, ENGLISH TEACHER
When our Primary School “Braќa Miladinovci” in Dobrushevo received a Pilot Project grant from the Macedonia Schools Project for three new laptops, we were eager to start using them immediately. Each of those laptops, quietly placed on the desks in our classrooms, became a window to the world.
A Classroom Without Walls
On the very first day, the English teacher, Blagica Brdarovska, turned on the computers and our modest classroom transformed into a virtual academy. Students began exploring digital books, watching authentic videos in English, and practicing new vocabulary through interactive learning games. The students from our small rural school could feel the power of modern education: a classroom without walls, where every child learns just like their peers in the world.
A Window into Europe
The laptops made our journey with Erasmus+ and eTwinning projects enjoyable and without any obstacles. Our students could easily connect with peers from Spain, Poland, Italy, Portugal. With smiles and a bit of nervousness, they showed their European friends traditional customs from our village, spoke English, exchanged presentations, created joint posters, and even filmed short videos together. Every Zoom or Teams meeting became a small adventure, a journey without planes or passports, but with enormous meaning.
Our Door to the Future and Artificial Intelligence
With the laptops our students and teachers explored AI tools, created posters with generative technology, wrote stories, practiced translations, made mini‑quizzes, and learned what it means to be digitally literate citizens of the future. For many of them, this was the first time they heard how a chatbot works, or what responsible and safe use of technology means. And while they learned, the students’ eyes sparkled, as if they were looking at a door opening to a world full of opportunities.
A Small School with Big Dreams
Even though we are a small rural school with limited resources, these three laptops changed our everyday life. Every class, every project, every video call reminded us that with the right support, even the smallest schools can create great stories.
Thanks to the generosity of the Macedonia Schools Project and the American people, our students now learn differently, more bravely, more creatively, and more freely. And every day, we prove that even a small donation can become a big spark of change.
Our school did not receive only equipment. We received an opportunity, inspiration, and a pathway toward a brighter future for our children.
Primary School “Edinstvo”, in the village Oktisi, Struga
By Angelina Stojkoska, Biology Teacher
My name is Angelina Stojkoska and I am a biology teacher at Primary School “Edinstvo” in the village of Oktisi, a scenic hilly area at an altitude of 800 meters above sea level, near the town of Struga.
Our school, provides education for grades 1 to 9 and serves about 250 students with 50 teachers and staff members. Teaching is carried out in both Macedonian and Albanian, reflecting the cultural diversity of our community. Our students come from different ethnic backgrounds, mainly Macedonian and Albanian, which helps them learn tolerance, cooperation, and mutual respect.
Our school has participated in several projects focused on multicultural education, and last year we were very happy to be awarded a Pilot Project of the Macedonia Schools Project (MSP). Through this project, we received televisions and projectors, which are now used in different classrooms to make lessons more visual and engaging. These tools help teachers explain topics more clearly and make learning more interesting for students.
The Pilot Project was very important for our school because it allowed us to connect directly with MSP and improve our teaching environment. It also opened opportunities for future cooperation. Currently, our school needs additional digital equipment and continued support for modern and inclusive education.
We are very grateful to MSP for their support. Their help has made learning more fun and teaching easier. On behalf of Edinstvo School, I want to thank them for their work and the help they provide to schools like ours. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with MSP in the future.
Angelina Stojkoska Blazo Mitasev Mustafa Kaliqi (Principal) Rahim Islamoski
IMPACT OF A PILOT PROJECT
By SNEZANA TASEVSKA, A TEACHER IN BITOLA
“Todor Angelevski”—Gorno Orizaria primary school located in the northeastern part of Bitola in the urban settlement of Gorno Orizaria, is positioned along the road leading to Prilep. The two names indicate that Gorno Orizari is a satellite extension of the main central school. The school is part of the central educational zone of the municipality of Bitola and serves as an important learning center for the community. Families in the community highly value education, stability, and personal development. The school is not only a place for learning, but also as a center for social growth, community activities, and student well-being.
Our school has 17 classes from first to ninth grades, (two classes in each grade), with about 220 students. The teaching staff is made up of dedicated educators who work every day to provide a supportive, safe, and motivating learning environment. Most of our students are Macedonian, with a small representation of other community groups. The academic program promotes inclusiveness, collaboration, and equal opportunities for all children.
Before receiving the Macedonia Schools Project (MSP) pilot project grant, the classroom where I teach was furnished with very old, damaged, and outdated furniture. The desks and chairs were unstable and uncomfortable. The classroom felt worn and uninspiring and did not reflect the dedication of our teachers or the potential of our students.
The MSP Pilot Project Grant completely transformed the classroom. With new desks, chairs, a teacher’s desk, and a locker, students experienced an immediate and powerful change. The classroom became bright, organized, and welcoming. Students showed greater motivation, stronger concentration, and increased pride in their school. The new modern environment gave the students a sense of connection and well-being that was important and appreciated.
The MSP Grant was an exceptional opportunity for our school. We hope this significant start will lead to a long-term collaboration with MSP. As a school committed to continuous improvement, we are still facing several important needs. Our future priorities include improving the school building and providing teaching materials and equipment.
MSP support has made a meaningful difference in the daily lives of our students. On behalf of our students, colleagues, and the school management, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generosity, kindness, and dedication to education in Macedonia.
KOCHO RACIN PRIMARY SCHOOL
By ALEKSANDRA ROSHKOSKA, MACEDONIAN TEACHER
We are the Kocho Racin Primary School, in Lakocherej. As part of our school’s digital learning initiative, MSP funded our Pilot Project.
We used the fund to purchase 12 ST-10-inch tablets. These tablets are now being used in various subjects to support interactive learning. Students use the devices to access educational applications, conduct online research, complete digital assignments, and participate in virtual lessons. Teachers also use the tablets to present multimedia materials, monitor student progress, and encourage collaboration through group projects.
The introduction of tablets has significantly improved student engagement and motivation. Lessons have become more dynamic, visual, and interactive, allowing students to develop digital literacy and independent learning skills.
We express our sincere gratitude to MSP for enabling our school to enhance and improve our delivery of an educational experience to our students.
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