Multiculturalism, Interethnic Integration and Tolerance in Elementary Schools | Macedonia

ACTIVITIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF MULTICULTURALISM, INTERETHNIC INTEGRATION AND TOLERANCE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

The need to implement interdisciplinary education that will adequately address the issue of multiculturalism, interculturalism, as well as their essence and reality in society, accompanied by the challenges we face, as well as the wealth that all individuals and all cultural groups bring to the collage of the state, gives us the right to believe that the need for education to become multicultural, and above all, intercultural, both in theory and in practice, is the right investment for the future.

As a primary school teacher, I am one of the members of the team who work on the project for Interethnic interaction in primary education.

Multiculturalism and good interethnic relations are important characteristics of quality education that lead to improved student outcomes, these elements should be particularly emphasized in the next phase of educational reforms. These activities represent a real challenge for the students who carry them out with enthusiasm and satisfaction. In addition to the established interpersonal communication and cooperation with members of other ethnic communities, the students have the opportunity to express and enrich their knowledge and skills. This project has a single goal, to improve interethnic integration through positive interactions between ethnically mixed youth at the school and community levels and to improve civic education content, skills and behaviors, and volunteering practices among young people. The goal of interethnic integrated education is to teach students the interaction necessary for competent living in a multiethnic society. Getting to know, respecting and cooperating with children, members of different ethnic groups, strengthening multiculturalism in the school, reducing prejudices through contact with members of other ethnic/cultural communities, increasing cooperation - activities should take place in a cooperative atmosphere, not in a competitive one, creating relationships of interdependence - the product of the activities should depend on the joint participation of all.

At the beginning of each school year, my team and I prepare a plan and program for joint activities with a selected partner school of another nationality.The goal is for the two schools of different nationalities to work on topics that are important for all students, regardless of nationality.The workshops are held in both partner schools with the assigned teams.Topics that are of common interest to our society are discussed.Topics we cover include: Women of different nationalities in Macedonia, Traditions and customs for important religious holidays, Prevention and protection from cyber violence, Saving planet Earth, Under the same sky with common values, In the rhythm of nature. This project is supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of North Macedonia.