Astina is a 14-year-old girl who studies in the ninth grade at the “Brakja Ramiz and Hamid” elementary school. This school is in the Shuto Orizari Municipality of Skopje. It is one of the largest schools in the country, with over 2,000 students. Most of the students in this school come from the Roma community.
Astina enjoys math and innovation classes. She plans to study informatics in the future. Surprisingly, she also loves chemistry. Her older brother helped her develop this interest by turning the periodic table into a catchy song.
In her science class, Astina takes part in experiments. These experiments show that a chemical reaction happens when there is a color change, bubbling, precipitation, or a change in temperature.
These hands-on lessons help Astina and her classmates understand science better. They learn without even realizing it. Astina says, “What makes me love a subject is how the teacher connects with us.”
Her science teacher, Gabriela, inspires students to experiment and think freely. She encourages them to aim high. Recently, one of Gabriela’s students, 14-year-old Elif, won first place in a national chemistry contest. He competed against 237 students from all over the country.
Elif is determined about his future. He plans to attend the secondary vocational school “Marie Curie Sklodowska” and become a laboratory technician.
Elif has seen many children in his community leave school early. He believes that support from family and good teachers helps students stay motivated. “My father is a musician and my mother stays at home. They did not finish school, but they always tell me to learn and succeed. They were so happy when I entered the contest!” he shares.
Astina and Elif show that children can do well in school when they have good learning opportunities and family support. When children have caring adults around them, like family members and teachers, they are more likely to stay in school and continue learning.
However, many Roma children in North Macedonia face big challenges in education. Only 56% finish primary school, while the national average is 94%. Poverty and limited access to early education make it harder. About 79% of Roma children live below the poverty line. Only 8% of them attend kindergarten. These problems put them at a disadvantage from the start.
UNICEF is helping North Macedonia to close these gaps. It supports policies and programs that give every child a fair chance to grow and learn.
UNICEF works with the ministries of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, Education and Science, and Health. Together, they develop support packages for vulnerable children. These efforts follow the European Child Guarantee approach. This is an EU program to prevent child social exclusion. It ensures access to key social services without stigma or discrimination.
The Child Guarantee will offer both general and targeted help. It aims to provide social protection, education, and healthcare to vulnerable children, including Roma children. This will help ensure that all children can access quality services and have equal opportunities to succeed in education.
When children are given a chance, they can flourish and reach their full potential.
