Cooperation with the community
During the project several activities with representatives from primary schools and public libraries were realized.
Activities with primary schools from Skopje
First phase of the project
As one of the activities in this phase a field research was planned and delivered.
Taking into consideration the limited resources used to conduct this research regarding Covid-19 measures its entailment was limited to participants from three primary schools from a few municipalities in Skopje:
1. Primary School „Bratstvo“ (both Macedonian and Albanian language);
2. Primary School „Panajot Ginovski“ (both Macedonian and Albanian language); and
3. Primary School „Dane Krapchev“ (Macedonian language).
The selection of schools which the research was conducted in was made from the list of schools with which the organisation has already established cooperation.
The questionnaire for teachers was administered to all native language teachers (Macedonian, Albanian, Turkish and Serbian) and foreign languages (English, German, French, Russian and Italian) in the included schools. 78 teachers answered this questionnaire.
The questionnaire for parents was answered by a total of 56 parents to pupils in their fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth grade from the included schools.
There were 48 teachers in the focus groups for teachers, from the primary education, as well as both native and foreign languages in the schools, while in the focus groups for pupils there were 52 pupils in fourth, fifth, eighth and ninth grade. The participants in the focus groups were chosen and recommended by the professionals and teachers in the schools.
This research was based on data from a primary source, as well as the use of a mixed method of quantitative and qualitive research. The quantitative indicators were collected by using two questionnaires – a questionnaire for teachers and representatives of professional service, as well as a questionnaire for parents. While for getting qualitive indicators the methodology of leading discussions in focus groups with teachers and pupils was used.
The questionnaires and focus groups were actualised digitally via Zoom, in the period of December 2020 to January 2021.
A total of three focus groups (45 teachers) were held with primary school teachers who also taught either a native language or foreign languages and six focus groups with pupils, i.e., two focus groups per each of the schools that participated in the research (one focus group with pupils in fourth and fifth grade, and another one with pupils in eighth and ninth grade).
Second phase of the project
In this phase representatives from 3 more pilot primary schools from Skopje were involved with aim to participate in training and other project activities.
The schools are:
1. Primary School “Aleksandar Makedonski” (Macedonian language).
2. Primary School “ Gjorgija Puleski” (Macedonian language).
3. Primary School “ Panajot Ginovski” (Macedonian language).
Activities with representatives from public libraries
Leading organization, Dominium cultural hub made estimation about the importance of contacting the public libraries from North Macedonia and involving them in the project activities. Based on the cooperation with partner from Croatia, City Library Rijeka, and their methodology of work with pupils, parents and schools, an agreement between all project partners (Croatia, Bulgaria) was made, to involve representatives from public libraries so that they can get training and information about new ways of working with schools and pupils. Seven representatives from 3 different libraries, City Library "Braka Miladinovci", National University Library "St. Kliment Ohridski” from Skopje and Public Institution City Library “Borka Taleski” from Prilep, were engaged in all project activities from the second phase of the project.
Training (Learning/Training/ Teaching/ Activities)
Learning/Teaching/Training activities aimed to present modern methodology of work of partners’ organizations in the field of Literacy and foreign languages.
Partners of the project delivered two days workshop each via ZOOM.
First training was organized and realized on 6th and 7th April 2021 by representatives from City Library Rijeka.
37 participants from six primary schools and three libraries took an active participation.
Second training was organized and realized on 7th and 8th June 2021 by representatives from Primary School “St. Konstantin – Kiril Filozof” from Ruse, Bulgaria with 25 participants.
All training materials are available on web site.
Good practices
On 26th April 2021 representatives from leading organization organized on line session with representatives from primary schools. The aim of this session was to discuss tasks and activities that teachers are encouraged to practice in their schools, inspired on information they got and will get from training from our partners. Also templates for registering their work, time fame and an action plan were discussed.
Each school had to develop an action plan with activities on the field of Literacy or foreign language, using the methodology for extracurricular activities.
On 11th May 2021 on line session with the same topic was realized with representatives from public libraries. The librarians were encouraged to organize some activities, inspired by information they already got and will get from training from partners organizations. Each library had to develop an action plan with activities on the field of Literacy or foreign language, using the methodology for extracurricular activities.
All materials which were delivered from schools and libraries are implemented as a part of Intellectual output 2 as a good practices and are available on web site.
Multiplier event
Round table and debate on how to develop key competences for literacy and learning other languages through extracurricular activities in schools was organized in City library “Brothers Miladinovci” in Skopje on 16th March 2022, by Dominium Cultural Hub.
This activity aimed to present the draft documents of the project - the concept and methodology for conducting extracurricular activities and their importance in the development of students' competences (acquiring skills and attitudes, and not just knowledge), to share research information and reccomendations and to invite the participants to discuss and share their experiences.
Representatives from schools and libraries which were involved presented their good practices.
Participants on the event were the carriers of the project, representatives of governmental institutions, teachers from primary schools who were involved in project activities and teachers from other primary schools from Skopje who were invited to get information about the project, project results and resources from where they can learn more and get more material, representatives from public libraries from Skopje.
Establishing network
Added value to our project is an established network of different institutions, schools, libraries, municipalities, NGOs’ and public institutions as well asa our partners from Croatia and Bulgaria.
Follow up activities
The main influence of this project is the development useful materials of basic competences for literacy and learning in foreign languages through innovative and creative approaches, through active involvement of students throughout the process, through extracurricular activities.
This project is designed to encourage and support systemic changes in primary education, with the focus not only on acquiring knowledge, but also on students' skills and attitudes, not only through regular teaching, but also through extracurricular activities.
That is exactly what the main impact is expected from this project: teachers to change their working methods, adapt the activities to the needs of contemporary students and the new needs of the society "which is in constant motion", to realize that knowledge itself is not enough, if it does not contain practical application - skills, and if students do not build their own attitudes and beliefs about what is being taught and living in the school.
The prepared tangible results, such as intellectual outputs, research reports, manuals and guidelines produced as documents, examples of good practices were shared among all involved in the project and on website. They are and we hope will be in future valuable resource for all interested subjects.
The influence of the Partnerships and networks established through this project is also significant for all participants, for cooperation and building the view that Europe is becoming a "common field of education" for all.
Teacher training and the use of extracurricular activities in day-to-day school planning during and after the funding period will complete their full understanding and awareness of the importance of their role in society.
Schools will provide training facilities, and Dominium will hire experts, as well as representatives from state institutions for participation and implementation of teacher training for the prepared modules for extracurricular activities for developing competences for literacy and learning other languages using a new methodology in practice.
