Third dialogue meeting regarding the project “Interpretation of the mutual history of modern time”

The third dialogue meeting, within the project “Interpretation of the mutual history of modern time” was implemented on 17^th, 18^th, 21^st and 22^nd of December 2020. The dialogue meeting was implemented via the platform ZOOM.

Through the implementation of the project, Peace Action and HTAM, continue to contribute towards reaching the project specific goal: The history teachers from primary and secondary schools from North Macedonia have strengthened capacities for: a critical perception of the ethnocentric narratives used through the history and the ways/models the history lessons are performed.

The training team for this dialogue meeting was: Mire Mladenoski from HTAM, Emrah Redzepi and Boro Kitanoski from Peace Action.

This dialogue meeting was held in a specific social circumstances, that are a challenge, and have an impact on the work of the teachers, and also on the project.  In this period, the Ministry of education and science have announced reforms in the primary education, with a direct impact on the History subject.  Also, our country is In front of a new political challenge, which is the veto for the start of the membership negotiation process with the European Union.

Given the specifics of the social circumstances and changes, within the dialogue meeting, we have dedicated one day discussion seasons about the actual political events and how these have impact in the school work. We thought, that it is very important to include such season. The group of teachers, expressed their perceptions about the actual political events, in a very honest and constructive manner and have pointed out the challenges that have impact on the work in the school, but also in the classroom.  In this manner we will quote one participant: “There is a need of a wide consensus. The reforms take time. One need to identify all the weaknesses and we need to start working from there. The History gives opportunity for development of a critical thinking”.

On this dialogue meeting, we also discussed, about the question, what is needed in order to contribute towards the development of a trust feeling? For this session we have used three life stories from the Peace Action archive, as well as the documentary film “Isprekinata crta” in production the Center for Non Violent Action Belgrade/Sarajevo. In the recording of the film, activists from Peace Action also took part.    Using the three life stories and the film as a base for contemplation, the group of teachers had an opportunity to open a dialogue for trust building and about all aspects that are needed in the society for development of such process.

Also, we had detailed seasons about analyses of the textbooks for the History subject. On 21^st of December, we have opened the topic: How it should look like an appropriate (wide spectrum, realistic, humane and honest) presentation of the History?

While on the 22^nd of December, we made analyses of the ethnic heroes represented in the History textbooks, the role of the women in that context as well as location of the problems in the curricula, the method of teaching and suggestions for changes.