North Macedonia’s Educators Lead a New Wave of Environmental Awareness in Schools
Across seven municipalities in North Macedonia, 42 primary school teachers from 14 schools have completed an intensive educational program on sustainability and waste management, turning lessons into lasting habits that shape how the next generation sees its environment.
The program, organized under the “Sustainable municipal waste management in North Macedonia” project implemented by SALAR International with support from Sweden, was designed to strengthen teachers’ knowledge and skills in sustainability and waste management. Through a combination of theory, practical exercises, and interactive workshops, participants gained hands-on tools to bring the basic circular economy principles, responsible waste behavior, and environmental care directly into their classrooms.
From Teachers to Change-makers
The teachers’ enthusiasm was evident from the very start. The program’s blend of creativity and practicality proved to be exactly what they needed to make environmental education both accessible and engaging.
“This training was truly necessary for teachers,” says Aleksandra Petrevski, civic education teacher at Vanco Nikoleski Primary School in Leskoec. “Ecology is an essential topic in education. The training offered practical exercises and activities that I can directly apply in the classroom. The materials we received are ready-to-use for workshops and short lessons that inspire students to act responsibly toward the environment.”
Aleksandra emphasizes that even small, playful activities can spark a sense of social responsibility among students.
“These exercises can easily be integrated into different subjects and extracurricular activities. They make sustainability part of everyday teaching, encouraging students to think critically and care for their surroundings.”
Similarly, Silvana Kirova, a biology teacher and mentor at Dr. Vladimir Polezinovski Primary School in Kičevo, highlights the program’s long-term impact:
“The content and activities are simple, interesting, and fully aligned with the curriculum,” she explains. “They encourage students to reduce, reuse, and recycle, helping them understand that every action matters. The program has strong sustainability because it promotes lifelong habits of environmental care and it can be applied continuously in everyday teaching with minimal resources.”
Learning that Lasts
The training sessions combined educational theory with practical activities - from interactive recycling games like “Waste Basketball” and “Recycle Bingo”, to hands-on exercises about waste decomposition, water use, and circular economy principles. Teachers also received toolkits and teaching guides, making it easier to integrate sustainability across various subjects. Hosted by partner schools in Bitola, Prilep, and Ohrid, the sessions brought together educators from the Pelagonia and Southwest regions, who not only learned from experts but from each other.
A Foundation for Broader Change
This educational initiative is part of a broader national effort to modernize North Macedonia’s local waste systems and establish the Regional Waste Management System (RWMS) - one of the country’s key reforms for aligning with EU environmental standards. By combining governance reform with education, the project ensures that institutional change is supported by behavioral change from the ground up. Teachers will now continue to apply what they’ve learned, guiding students toward responsible waste habits and sustainable thinking. In doing so, they are shaping a generation that sees waste as a shared responsibility and an opportunity to care for their community.
As the teachers involved emphasized - sustainability begins with awareness. When students understand how their choices affect the environment, they start making better ones. And that’s where real change starts.
About the project
The “Sustainable municipal waste management in North Macedonia” project is funded by Sweden and implemented by SALAR International in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, Ministry of Local Self-Government, and ZELS in North Macedonia. Its educational component empowers teachers to lead environmental learning in schools, fostering long-term cultural shifts toward waste reduction, recycling, and responsible resource use.