Skopje, 1 September 2026 (MIA) – Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska wished students a happy start to the new 2026-2027 school year Tuesday. She also attend the official launch of Makedonski Telekom’s campaign against peer violence and for peaceful and safe schools at the “Kiro Gligorov” primary school in the Centar municipality.

She offered special congratulations to first-graders as well as their parents and teachers, wishing the youngest pupils success in their learning, make many friends, stay curious and ask questions, think and share their views.

“I wish the students a successful and productive school year. But I also wish them something else – that everything they do, they do together and peacefully. I wish all students a peaceful school environment, without arguments and fights,” Janevska said.

She also wished students in the upper grades a successful school year, urging them “to prove that they are more responsible and mature,” to set an example for younger students, and calling for tolerance and empathy.

“Study, study hard, because the knowledge is the greatest strength you can gain. No one can take this wealth away from you and with it you can do many good things and fulfill your dreams. All you need to do is to believe in yourselves and learn every day. Choose to be friends with other children. Insults, offensive words and violence do not mean that you are strong, they are a sign of weakness,” Janevska said.

She also had a message for parents, urging them to pay attention to their children’s upbringing, saying that their love and attention are the most valuable things they can give their children. A warm and peaceful home, she added, means carefree children who grow up with right values.

Janevska also called on teachers to focus on students’ education, but stressed that “what is most important is to make them thoughtful and free citizens who will become successful people in the future.”

Makedonski Telekom will implement the anti-peer-violence campaign throughout the entire school year. Goran Markovikj, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, said they had supported a broad and important initiative aimed at creating a safe environment for children and young people, free from violence and hatred, both in schools and in the digital world.

The campaign aims to focus on three areas: education, prevention and active youth participation, he said, adding that students will learn many things, but the most important is how to be good friends.

“Because true courage means being kind, helping someone and standing by a friend when they are going through a difficult time. Be brave enough to say ‘no’ to violence and hatred and remember that you are not alone. With the slogan ‘Break the Circle of Violence – Do not Be an Audience’ we want to encourage everyone to take an active role in stopping violence. Above all, we are addressing children, parents, teachers, institutions, but also society as a whole. Telekom will continue to seek new partnerships and introduce new products and services that will help create a safer digital world for all our children,” Markovikj said.

Photo: MIA