The peoples living in the Western Balkans lack more cohesion and respect for diversity and less focus on extreme nationalism, intolerance and hatred, so that we can be a more harmonious and beautiful environment to live in, believes the Minister of Education and Science Jeton Shaqiri.

At the event where the results of the school exchange and networking program "Super Schools" were presented today in Struga, he pointed out that if changes are more difficult for the elderly, for the young they will certainly be able to influence systemically, that is, through the correct placement of the national educational systems and with sufficient support from the civil sector.

- We must teach them to be oriented towards dialogue, towards building peace and towards greater mutual respect. To grow into people without prejudices, to cooperate and exchange experiences, believing that in this way they will contribute to a better life in their own country, and thus in the region, Shaqiri said.

According to him, the results of the implementation so far are motivating and he expects them to be even better in the future.

- I am especially proud that schools from North Macedonia took an active part in the initiative. This confirms that we, as a country, have a youth that shows readiness to participate in creating the changes that we all want to see in the Western Balkans, Shaqiri said.

He called for perseverance in the implementation of this initiative, as well as its greater promotion and expansion in the future.

- Let's involve as many young people as possible and build a region that will be resistant to political influences aimed at deepening the gap between nations, Shaqiri added.

The program for school exchange and networking "Super Schools", which is implemented by the Regional Office for Youth Cooperation and the German Society for International Cooperation, aims to connect secondary schools from the countries in the Western Balkans in order to improve their capacities for implementing projects for building intercultural dialogue and regional cooperation.

Within the initiative, 30 secondary schools from North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Albania, Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro organized 60 activities for the exchange of experiences through networking of over 800 students aged 15 to 17 years. More than 100 teachers were involved in the activities, and it will be implemented until March 2024.