At the panel discussion of CIVIL on the topic “Non-discrimination and multiculturalism in schools, the Minister of Education and Science, Mila Carovska referred to interculture in schools and non-discriminatory content in textbooks.

“The system is trying to cope with all the challenges. We have all witnessed discriminatory content being published in textbooks for years. What is significant is that so far only these issues have been discussed on a project basis. In the new concept of primary education, the basic pillar is interculture. The concept is civil and we are a civil state. You can not pass laws on discrimination and inclusiveness when in reality you have discriminatory content and directly create an atmosphere of dissatisfaction. All these debates should not be viewed only from the point of view of politics, but should be viewed from the point of view of respecting all groups. Education must respect everyone,” said Minister Carovska.

The envisaged framework for implementation is 5-6 years for from first to ninth grade. Next school year we go to the first and fourth grade, and every year we will add grades in order to cover all grades within 5 years. Part of that is equipping classrooms and teaching materials.

We have already withdrawn 2 textbooks that have discriminatory content and that is a demonstration of the systemic will to change something. Once the new laws are passed, every textbook will be revised, and those that are withdrawn, their use is certainly prohibited.