USAID supports the Reading and Math Olympics event for the youngest students 

Today, May 16, 2018, USAID’s Readers are Leaders project hosted a “Reading and Math Olympics” at the Shkolka stage in Skopje City Park. More than 200 students and teachers from primary schools from across the country joined the celebration and participated in educational activities. Students had the chance to collaborate with their peers to solve interesting reading and math challenges, and teachers shared best practices on teaching language and math with their colleagues from other schools.    

In his remarks to the press, U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia Jess Baily commented, “If we want to raise children to become responsible adults and build Macedonia’s self-reliance and resilience, we need to help them develop critical thinking and learning skills early on.” USAID’s Readers are Leaders chief of party Suzana Kirandziska, applauded USAID’s support for the five-year project and the ongoing collaboration the project has successfully established with educational institutions and all primary schools in Macedonia.

USAID’s Readers are Leaders project, implemented by the Foundation for Education and Cultural Initiatives Step by Step, assesses and improves early grade reading and numeracy while promoting broader community appreciation for the importance of these foundational skills. Through the project, for the first time reading and math assessment tools, developed specifically for early primary grade levels, were administered in Macedonian, Albanian and Turkish languages in Macedonia. The project offers innovative and creative learning approaches and activities, including the Letters and Numbers Roadshow, Mobile and Digital Libraries with suitable learning materials for students, parents, and teachers. The project started in May 2013 and ends in June 2018. The Reading and Math Olympics was one of the events marking the end of the project. To learn more about the project, visit: http://stepbystep.org.mk/mk/proekt-ral   

NOTE TO EDITORS: This year, USAID is marking its 25th anniversary in Macedonia. The American people, through USAID, have invested more than $610 million in the country since 1993. USAID is working with the people of Macedonia to create jobs, strengthen democratic institutions and practices, enhance integrated education, and prepare students for the modern workforce. These initiatives, in partnership with the people of Macedonia, aim to improve the quality of life for Macedonia’s citizens. For more information please visit https://www.usaid.gov/macedonia and USAID’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/USAIDMacedonia.