The Annual Assembly of the Association of Geography Professors in Macedonia, "Prof. PhD. Ljube Milenkovski" - Skopje, which took place on 23.12.2023 in the premises of the amphitheater of the University of Skopje, was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the death of its patron, prof. PhD. Ljube Milenkovski. On that occasion, delegations of the Association and the University of Skopje, a long-time supporter of the Association's work, laid fresh flowers on the grave of our respected professor and textbook. The delegation was led by prof. PhD. Ace Milenkovski, rector of University of Skopje and president of the Association, who dignified and consistently follows in his father's footsteps.
As part of the commemoration of this anniversary, a commemoration was held in the University amphitheater on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the death of Professor Ljube Milenkovski.
"Even if I had a hundred lives, I would not achieve what my father achieved." He was a solid pillar of the family, an exceptional geographer, an exceptional professor, an exceptional textbook teacher, an exceptional leader of the geographic community, an exceptional man. He left a lot to Macedonia, he left us, his family, to work hard to fulfill his legacy," said Prof. PhD. Ace Milenkovski for his father.
Professor Atanas Konevski, a long-time friend of the Milenkovski family, emphasized in his address about his friend: "Great people like my Ljube, like Blaze Konevski, like Krste Misirkov, like Grigor Prlichev, like Naum Ohridski, do not have a date of death, they only have a date of birth".
In honor of its patron, the Association also organized a panel discussion on the topic "Geography in the process of transformation of Macedonian education", where they presented their views on the challenges facing the subject of geography and the professors who teach it, as well as on education in general. prof. PhD Ace Milenkovski, rector of University of Skopje, Assoc. PhD. Viktoria Trajkov, university professor and career diplomat, Betty S. Trajkovska, MP in the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Mite Ristov, M.Sc., geography professor at the Secondary School, "Josip Broz Tito" M.Sc.,Aneta Chakovska, geography professor at OOU Stiv Naumov , Sashko Stefanovski, geography professor at OOU "Nikola Karev". The panel was moderated by M.Sc., Biljana Trendafilova, educator and long-time editor and journalist.
Prof. PhD. Ace Milenkovski, who discussed the need for necessary changes in the Macedonian educational system, particularly referred to the needs of modernization of the entire educational process in order to catch up with the needs of current and future generations. "Today's phones are not just phones, they are - especially for the new generations - a window to information, to life, to the world!" That's why we should start conducting the entire educational process on the phone! This is the only way we will be able to keep young people at home, when we adapt education to modern times, to the needs of modern young people!", pointed out Prof. PhD. Ace Milenkovski.
The role of the legislature in the creation of educational policies and especially the importance of consistent implementation of the principle of non-discrimination at all levels in education was discussed by Betty S. Trajkovska, professor of geography and deputy in the Macedonian assembly. "We cannot build laws based on discrimination." A professor who works 10 hours cannot get the same salary as someone who works 24 hours. One cannot put some teachers on a pedestal because they implement one concept, to the detriment of other teachers. We must build long-term policies that treat everyone equally," said Betty S. Trajkovska
Deputy Trajkovska's presentation was followed by Assoc. prof PhD Viktoria Trajkov, career diplomat and professor at University of Skopje. Exposing the conditions, challenges and perspectives in the creation of new educational policies, she emphasized that Macedonia does not have a long-term national strategy for the development of education supported by an adequate budget. "We are cutting the budget for education and science year after year, and without education, there is no state," pointed out Professor Trajkov.
At the Annual Session of the Assembly of the Association, at which more than 150 of its members filled the amphitheater of the University of Skopje, the Program for the work and the financial plan of the Association for 2024 were adopted, after which the Golden Plaques "Prof. PhD. Ljube Milenkovski" for contribution to the development of geography and affirmation of the Association. This year, Boris Vasilevski, Burim Aliu, Susana Nikolich, Aneta Chakovska, M.Sc., Juliana Maksimovska, M.Sc. and Mite Ristov, M.Sc., all geography professors and members of the Association, had the honor of receiving this prestigious award.
Geography must remain in education, and professionals in the field must and will continue to fight for its return to the educational process. Education must not be a subject of improvisations and we must treat it with special attention in order to keep our young people at home, said the members of the Association of Geography Professors of Macedonia "Prof. PhD. Ljube Milenkovski" - Skopje, at the final discussion of the event dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the death of his patron.
Eternal memory, professor!
