Ten elementary and high schools from all over Macedonia have signed a cooperation memorandum with the USAID Interethnic Integration in Education Project. The four-year project worth $5.2 million was opened three months ago and its activities have been officially launched Wednesday with the signing of the memorandum.

Ten schools in Tetovo, Skopje, Bitola, Demir Hisar, Resen, Strumica, Bogovinje will receive financial assistance to renovate and improve their facilities.

These schools have been selected amongst 100 schools in 25 municipalities that sent applications at a call issued over a month ago. They have been chosen for their enthusiasm and readiness to create better learning environments for interethnic integration.

U.S. Ambassador Paul Wohlers said that the United States and USAID would keep on supporting projects promoting and fostering multiethnicity, respect of religion, culture and the language of others.

"This is critical in building social and interethnic cohesion throughout the country. Such an education will create citizens who will be in a much better position to actively take part in the increasingly global society of the 21st century," he stated.

Vice PM responsible for the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement Musa Xhaferi said he was convinced the project would meet the goal for people to get to know each other in a multiethnic and multicultural society such as Macedonia.

"Multiculturalism and multiethnicity are an advantage in a society. Some individuals are sceptical about the existence of such a society, but we are convinced that this characteristic could be used by societies on their path to progress," Xhaferi noted.

Minister of Education and Science Pance Kralev said that the immense response by schools, local self-government, NGOs and parents' boards demonstrated that the need of a multiethnic integration was great and desired.