Skopje, 9 June 2025 (MIA) – Students at Goce Delchev primary school in the village of Pirava, Valandovo, will now attend classes in modern conditions, as the school building has been completely renovated. The project represents an investment of $322,600 provided by the United States European Command through the Humanitarian Assistance Program, while the Ministry of Education and Science and the municipality secured the necessary documentation and oversaw the construction process.

To mark the completion of the investment, the school was visited by Minister Vesna Janevska, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Skopje, Nicole Varnes, and Senior Defence Official and Defense Attaché, Daniel Squyres. According to the Ministry, they emphasized that education is key to national progress.

Janevska said she had the opportunity to see what the building looked like until recently and to witness its transformation today.

"I’m glad that the children from this community now have the kind of conditions all students in the country should have. In a pleasant school environment, the energy is different. Enthusiasm grows, the desire for learning and knowledge is encouraged, and motivation for work and creative teaching increases," said Janevska, extending congratulations to the municipal leadership, the school staff, and the local residents.

Given the exceptionally significant contribution of the United States to the reconstruction of the school building, Janevska added that it is only appropriate to jointly express deep gratitude.

“The US has been our strategic partner for more than three decades. They’ve played a major role in developing key skills among our students, digital, language, entrepreneurial, media literacy, and more. And of course, this is not the first infrastructure investment in education from the American people, and I’m confident it won’t be the last,” Janevska said.

She added that friends are essential, as national goals and interests are more easily achieved together.

“Improving educational infrastructure is among the government’s top priorities. I support this claim with the fact that, at this very moment, the government is implementing an investment cycle worth €32 million. We are building seven new school facilities, renovating around 20 others, constructing four new sports halls and refurbishing two student dormitories. Moreover, photovoltaic systems will soon be installed in about 50 schools,” Janevska said.
She also informed that at the end of this year and the beginning of the next calendar year, much larger investments will being, mainly focused on higher education, while investments in primary and secondary education will continue.

"As we mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and North Macedonia, it is fitting that we gather here in a school. Education has always been at the heart of our partnership, not because it makes the news, but because it makes a difference. Investing in education means investing in young people. And investing in young people means investing in the future we want to build-together," Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Skopje, Nicole Varnes, said.

Photo: Ministry of Education and Science