Teacher Ile Mihajllovski discusses education challenges in North Macedonia

Ile Mihajllovski, a primary school teacher from Sveti Nikole and a 2025 Global Teacher Prize finalist, has identified key factors contributing to the decline in North Macedonia’s PISA test results.

Mihajllovski notes that a materialistic trend among young parents often leads them to compensate for their absence by purchasing expensive gifts rather than fostering essential values or encouraging reading habits in young children. He emphasizes that many parents struggle to prioritize reading over modern distractions like scooters or mobile devices.

Furthermore, the educator highlighted a divergence in educational approaches between North Macedonia and Scandinavian countries. While Scandinavian nations are implementing stricter measures by limiting mobile phones and artificial intelligence in favor of returning to traditional textbooks, Mihajllovski observes that local educational leadership continues to promote the use of artificial intelligence.