Early education

Skopje, 5-6 October 2022: On World Teachers’ Day, teachers and educators from some 100 schools and kindergartens will gather at a two-day conference to discuss how to integrate experiential learning into the curricula to support environment and climate change education in preschool and primary education. Organised in partnership between the…

“I have worked for many years with children in street situations, then as a preschool teacher, and at 42 I graduated pedagogy at the State University. To me, the most important thing is learning,” says Imerzad Tochi, a pedagogue in “8 April” kindergarten in Suto Orizari, a predominantly Roma community in the capital of Skopje. Imerzad works in a…

Skopje, 28 February 2022: UNICEF and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy are launching a new initiative to increase pre-school teachers’ practical skills on how to create and sustain Professional Learning Communities to advance their professional development and further enhance the learning and development of children. Over 200 teacher…

Children who acquire a strong emotional foundation in the early years have the capacity to better manage everyday social interactions later in life. Social emotional development empowers kids to grow self-aware and confident, to manage difficult emotions and impulses, and to embody empathy, which helps improve their educational attainment and…, Think Equal (UK), UNICEF has partnered with Think Equal (UK) to produce a series of cartoons to support the development of social and emotional skills in pre-school aged children - empathy, kindness, perseverance, critical thinking, conflict resolution, self-esteem, communication, self-awareness and more. The cartoons are animated versions of the Think Equal…, Svetot na Bibi, UNICEF has partnered with Svetot na Bibi to produce a set of fun educational materials to help children recognize and manage their emotions, but also inspire parents how to promote their child’s development and create a nurturing environment. The materials feature Bibi, Bobi and their friends, and they include eight animated episodes and an…, 'Book of emotions' is a digital picture book available in Macedonian and Albanian language. Click on the image to view online.

Social and emotional skills are just as important as cognitive skills and increase a child's ability to learn, work with others, pay attention in the classroom and develop other skills that form the basis for learning and social interaction in school years and later in life. Preschool teachers work with children daily to develop these skills, but…, Watch the live streamed events, Dimche Mirchev Preschool, Veles Kocho Racin Preschool, Skopje Mladost Preschool, Tetovo Pavlina Veljanova Preschool, Kochani Veseli Cvetovi Preschool, Skopje Sharing and playing - Breshia, Debar Jasna Risteska Preschool, Ohrid Kindergarten Majski Cvet, Bitola Kindergarten Angel Shajche, Kumanovo Nasha Idnina Preschool, Prilep Aco Karamanov…

Skopje, 6 October 2021 – Today UNICEF, British Embassy Skopje and Svetot na Bibi launched a new initiative to support parents develop the skills they need to use play-based activities to build social and emotional development of children. The new UNICEF and Svetot na Bibi initiative, funded by the British Embassy Skopje includes a series of…

As the representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund in the country, I am reaching out to everyone that is considering running for local office in the October elections. When preparing your electoral platforms be inspired and guided by the wish to make your municipalities a better place for children and youth. Children and youth have  the…, Access to good quality local services, Research shows that access to quality early childhood development and learning programmes is critical for success in education, as well as for well-being, employability and social integration. That is why the European Union has set a target of 95% pre-school coverage, with focus on quality. Yet, just 20% of children in rural areas of the country…, Children and youth with disabilities, The electoral campaign will be a great opportunity for you to present your plans on how to remove the barriers – not just physical, but also attitudinal barriers – that prevent children and young people with disabilities to equally participate in all ways of life in the local community. Commit that you will ensure that public transport is…, Environment and climate change, Environmental problems are clouding the future of children and young people. They have the right to develop and grow without worrying about their health being ruined by pollution. Surveys with young people show that concerns about the environment influences young people’s desire to migrate to other countries. The upcoming elections provide an…

Social and emotional development begins early in life. This is when children start to understand who they are, what they are feeling and what to expect when interacting with others. It’s when they learn how to form and sustain positive relationships; experience, manage and express emotions. A growing body of scientific evidence confirms that…, Managing stress and conflict situations, Conflict situations give birth to stress and stress can trigger conflict situations. See how Mira Gjorgjievska, Pedagogue and Peer Support Teacher from Skopje is working with children to help them deal with difficult situations.   See also in Macedonian and Albanian UNICEF/2019, We are our best friend – Self-Acceptance, Teaching children from early age to respect themselves and to nurture self-love help them show respect and love to others. See how teacher Aleksandra Andonovska – Janeva, Peer Support Teacher from Veles is implementing self-acceptance techniques. See also in Macedonian and Albanian UNICEF/2019, Self-Regulation, Teaching children how to self-regulate in the early years helps them understand and control emotions, focus on learning and manage stress. Learn more about the strategies used by Tatjana Gregova, Peer Support Teacher in Bitola. See also in Macedonian and Albanian UNICEF/2019, Self-Awareness, Teaching children self-awareness in the first years of life helps them develop strong social emotional abilities. See how Tatjana Gregova, Peer Support Teacher is implementing strategies to help children build a strong sense of self in Bitola. See also in Macedonian and Albanian UNICEF/2019, Social and Emotional Learning is Skills for Learning and Life, By giving young children the tools to self-regulate we give them the foundation skills they need for learning and life. Learn more from Imijan Ameti, Peer Support Teacher, Hadjere Mahmudi, Teacher, Elita Mehmedi, Care Giver and Ramije Dauti, Kindergarden Director about how the strategies are helping children in Tetovo. See also in Macedonian and…, Morning Greetings Help Children Build a Sense of Belonging, When children can choose the way they want to be greeted, they develop a sense of belonging and it sets a positive tone for the day. Learn more from Hadjere Mahmudi, Teacher in Tetovo. See also in Macedonian and Albanian UNICEF/2019, Building strong relationships, Social and emotional development equips children with skills for learning and life. Engaging families helps strengthen these skills and create opportunities for children to practice what they learn at home. See how Snezana Guculj, Peer Support Teacher from Skopje is engaging families. See also in Macedonian and Albanian UNICEF/2019, Engaging families, Engaging families strengthens children's social and emotional skills and creates opportunities for children to share and express their emotions at home. These skills help set the foundation for learning and life. See what parents in Skopje have to say about the initiative. See also in Macedonian and Albanian UNICEF/2019, Expressing gratitude and respect, Repeating affirmative words and words of happiness help children relax their brain and become ready to learn a new activity. See what relaxing techniques practices the teacher Jovanka Eftimova, Peer Support Teacher from Kochani. See also in Macedonian and Albanian

SKOPJE, 16 May 2019 -  During his visit to North Macedonia, His Royal Highness The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex visited children at one of the kindergartens where UNICEF and the United Kingdom Government are working together with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy to introduce new innovative ways to develop children’s socio-emotional skills…

The commitment comes ahead of a new UNICEF global report highlighting a lack of investment in pre-primary education by the majority of governments worldwide SKOPJE, 9 April 2019 – A new UNICEF global report highlights 176 million pre-school aged children are not enrolled in pre-primary education and calls on governments around the world to…

The early years are not only a time when children learn to take their first steps or say their first words. They are also critical years when, through their relationships with others, children start building expectations about their world and the people living in it. Every day, they learn emotional skills important for establishig healthy…

To analyze the inclusion of children with disabilities in kindergartens throughout the country and to assess if the conditions and the efforts placed ensure proper care and education, the Ombudsman conducted a research, following up on two other studies of inclusion of children with disabilities in primary and in secondary education (conducted…