The only integrated multiethnic school in Macedonia, “Fridtjof Nansen” is located in the Tetovo village, Preljubiste.
It is unique for its goal and way of operating: in this school the Macedonian and the Albanian children are learning about their, but also about the culture of the other.
This facility has been opened according to the “Nansen” model of primary school from Lillehammer, with the help from Nansen Dialogue Center in Skopje.
Little Sara has wished her school mate Kadrina “Shume urime”, whereas Kltrina has wished Sara “Srekjen rodenden”. They have expressed best wishes to each other on the other language which is not their mother tongue.
This is pretty much the everyday picture in the integrated bilingual school in the Tetovo village, Preljubiste, which is one of the three schools of such type in the world.
There are twelve Albanian children here, together with twelve Macedonians. Together, they act as one, they all learn the things that are typical for the other.
The teaching is being performed in Macedonian and Albanian language separately, whereas the extracurricular activities such drawing, painting, narrating is the time where the language barriers have been successfully overcome.
After two years of operating, the foreign language does not sound that foreign to the children, says the Director of the school, Burhan Ejupi:
- “The Albanian and the Macedonian children know a few words from let’s say the foreign language. The Albanian children know certain Macedonian words, the Macedonian children know certain Albanian words.”
Mexhit Emurli and Jovica Misajloski are parents of two children who attend this school.
According to them, this is how ethnical stereotypes can disappear and to them it is important their children to meet each other and to easily communicate:
- “You can tell that they hang out with each other very often. They go to school together, they communicate with each other after school. I think that the future will show that this project is of a great importance.”
- “My child, as well as the other children know Albanian and all other children know some words.”
A model for Europe?
The school in Preljubiste is a model for Europe, because that level of tolerance has not been achieved even in Norway.
This is how the Director of the “Nansen” network, Steinar Bryn has expressed his satisfaction with the realization of this project in Macedonia:
- “This school is a model for Europe. We, in Norway could learn from it. There are schools in Oslo with white ethnic Norwegians and the rest of them are with immigrants only. That in a way is separation. The children are not learning how to meet each other.”
“Fridtjof Nansen” has been opened two years ago. Every day, in modern classrooms, the children who’d like to learn the language and culture of their friends meet.
The school has been constructed with donations from the Kingdom of Norway.
It is planned to also build a secondary bilingual school for informational technology in Preljubiste.
These primary school students free from national stereotypes may continue their schooling there.
