partner-organisation in Macedonia. |
The Macedonian Perspective 1.Situation about studies of national history in Macedonia Organization of the studies of national history in Republic of Macedonia is very positive, very interesting and popular to learn. They are separated in different periods and include Macedonian national history, Balkans history and World history. Macedonian national history is separated in four periods. First period is the history of Ancient Macedonia and ancient Macedonians. In this period students of history learn about ancient Macedonian history since the creation of the ancient Macedonian state until coming of Slavis on the Balkan peninsula between the 5-7-th century A.C.The second period is the period of the Middle age or history of Macedonian people in the Middle ages. In this period students learn about the Middle age Macedonian history, since the coming of Slavs on the Balkan peninsula until the Turkish arrival on the Balkans and falling under Turkish authority of Macedonian territory in the middle of the 14-th century. The third period is the period of Turkish rule in Macedonia. In this period students learn about Macedonian history in this period. This period finished with the First Balkan War in 1912.The fourth period is the period, which includes historical events since Balkan wars until the end of 20-th century. In this period students learn about Macedonian history in this period. Parallel with that, the studies include history of other Balkan states and peoples, European history and World history. Also, during the process of studies, students of history learn other disciplines as Sociology, Psychology, Pedagogy, History of Arts and foreign languages. At the end of the process of studies, students go in for an examination, Methodology of History or practice teaching, to the elementary and high schools. During the process of studies, the students also have visits to Macedonian historical monuments. Also they have organize visits to historical places in the other countries such as Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey. Every student finishes with the process of studying by making one diploma work. Students choose one subject and work on it. After graduation, students get the title Professor of History. With this diploma professors can work in elementary and high schools. For now that is the situation with the Macedonian studies of History. I think, personally, that the studies of history in Macedonia on the University "St.Cyril and Methodius", are good organized with good and quality teams of professors, that have historical literature, and documentation and another study materials. Every student who wants really to learn Macedonian or other history, Balkan, European and World history, has the opportunity to get very good historical knowledge. Concerning the history I don’t have any suggestions about studding history process. My opinion about defects and omission on the process of studding is the policy of registration into the University, because the University has lot of students. This students after graduation have problems in the process of employment. 2.History into Macedonian elementary and high schools educational system The course of study of educational, elementary and high schools program for History is prepared by the Macedonian Ministry of Education and specialized Macedonian institution of Pedagogy. This program is prepared by Macedonian educational experts. By my personal opinion, course of study history teaching/learning is prepared in a good way and I don’t any suggestion about that. The course of study or education history program includes program of teaching and learning from history textbooks. The program also, includes, school boys and girls (pupils) to a visiting of some historical monuments in the area where the school is located as well as historical monuments in Macedonia. About elementary and high history textbooks: For elementary educational processes exists one uninfected history textbook. For high schools they are two history textbooks. One history textbook is for a gymnasium(natural-mathematics,generally and languages gymnasium), where schools boys and girls, learn history for 4 school years. The second history textbook is for specific high schools such as high schools of arts, medicine, economy, electronics, machines, agriculture…in these high schools, school boys and girls, learn history for 2 years. History professors from the University as well as experts from Macedonian Institute of National History and professors and teachers with more years of work experience in Macedonian educational system, write all the History textbooks.History textbooks contain lessons about Macedonian national history, since antique period until today. Usually the history contains history lessons about Macedonian national history separated in periods: ancient period, middle age period, new age period and contemporary period. Lessons include historical events from this four periods. Also, history textbooks contain lessons of Balkan, Europe and World, history, since ancient period until today. This lectures are included in both history textbooks, textbooks for gymnasium as well as specific high school. About, what the history textbook contains and for textbooks generally, I can’t give any suggestions , because, they are written from experienced Macedonian educational experts in this area. By my point of view, history text-books in Macedonian educational system, are a quality with good historical lectures and historical lessons.They might have little bit defects and omissions, but generally they are good and they give a good opportunity for a good educational process. Historical events in the historical lessons are explanatory in a real and correct way as they happened in the past. About European history, students have the opportunity to learn lessons about the European Union, including the period of creation of European Union since the beginning until today. About the educational process of teaching/learning national or other history, by my opinion the history textbooks are not too important, but the professors and teachers are. More important are the teachers and professors ability, quality, professionalism and experience to make the process of teaching/learning, interesting for school boys and girls. It is my opinion and only suggestion about the Macedonian history educational process, but in all Balkan countries. The teachers and professors should improve the educational process by comparative learning, exchanging different information, opinions, attitudes, free conversation, giving some suggestions from school boys and girls concerning History. Main aim of teaching/learning process is to understanding historical process, why they happened, some historical events, reasons for that, effects from this historical event…Teachers and professors should make, school boys and girls to think freely about some historical events historical persons and to build personal opinions about the history process. For example, when teachers have classes about some historical event or historical person from 19-th century, they can make connection with some events today such as the European Integration, might!? History textbooks are just collection of historical facts and information. History facts can’t be change by nobody. They just, exist in different ways of interpretation of historical facts. Concerning the process of approach of national histories and understanding the creation of a United Europe, I think, history, history text-books, professors and teachers can contribute a lot of to this process. But, unfortunately, in some Balkans countries there are the history textbooks, lessons where History is shown on incorrect and unreal way. Example, in Bulgarian history textbooks, Macedonians are shown as Bulgarians and all Macedonian history is showed as Bulgarian. In Bulgarian textbooks there are for example still exist situations where Bulgarian army in Second World War is shown as liberation army in Macedonia and not as occupants. It is one example. But concerning, this many examples in all Balkans countries, Macedonia, Albania, Greece, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, exist. Unfortunately with this situation we can’t go to European integration. History still is used for political aims by politicians, churches representatives, and scientists... and other institutions in all Balkan countries. I know that in Macedonia, Bulgaria and Albania the idea exist for some unification of history in these countries. I don’t know about the details but initiative exists! Prof.: Saso Dodevski Youth Council of Prilep |