The Primary Education Project (PEP) is a five-year, $16.4 million initiative targeting all public primary schools in Macedonia. PEP seeks to improve the quality of instruction and increase employment skills in youth.

This project is a continuation of a cluster of USAID-funded projects to strengthen education in Macedonia and support decentralization efforts, as Macedonia seeks entrance to the European Union.

PEP’s main objectives are to:

• improve teaching and learning to enable students to acquire critical thinking skills;
• increase access to and use of modern computer and Internet technologies to help students succeed in the job market;
• help schools improve their learning environments while renovating their buildings to stimulate learning and creativity; 
• work with educators and the Ministry to develop quality digital learning materials to enable active inquiry-based learning;
• improve math and science education by improving curricula and teaching methods;
• improve school-based assessment to stimulate and reinforce quality learning;

Project management

The Academy for Educational Development (AED), a US-based non-profit organization, is implementing PEP on behalf of USAID in partnership with the University of Indiana, the Macedonian Civic Education Center (MCEC) and other local NGOs and private companies. In addition, AED has partnerships with a variety of national and multi-national corporations that have strong education programs, an interest in increasing the effective use of information technology in schools and a desire to promote the quality of education, economic growth, and stability in this dynamic region. Through these partnerships, AED aims to provide significant additional resources to the project.

Project components

• Renovate select schools and improve energy efficiency.
• Increase access to and improve use of information technology.
• Improve math and science education.
• Improve student assessment.

The focus on improving energy efficiency will improve learning and make it easier for schools and municipalities to manage and maintain their schools. The information technology component aims to increase student access to computers to a ratio of 30 students per computer from the current average estimate of 54 students per computer. The math and science component focuses on improving teaching practices to enable enquiry-based learning to help students to learn critical thinking and problem solving skills, essential for improving students’ job readiness. The assessment component seeks to strengthen Macedonia’s effort to join the European Union and to improve student leaning. The preparatory year activity will last for the first two years of the project. All components will also create digital learning content that students and teachers can use to enhance education.

For more information:

Contact info@pep.org.mk or

Primary Education Project (PEP)
Bukureska 91
1000 Skopje, Macedonia
Office phone: (+389) 2 306 1620

USAID Mission contacts:

Lela Jakovlevska
E-mail: ljakovlevska@usaid.gov

Natasa Murdzeva
E-mail: nmurdzeva@usaid.gov

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USAID • AED