It's time for a new education in Macedonia: education of the heart

In Macedonia, the beginning of autumn always brings a new rhythm – classrooms fill up with students again, teachers start new lessons, and parents return to their daily routines. Although I am neither a student nor a teacher, and my children are adults, this period always awakens in me a feeling of starting something new. I consider myself a lifelong learner (I believe many of you feel the same way) and I believe that through my work I am building a community – a Healthy Community – that teaches people to nourish not only their minds, but also their hearts and their relationships with each other.

We learn outside the classroom.

An education that engages the heart, mind, and soul doesn’t just happen in the classroom. It happens in nature, by rivers and lakes, in our relationships with others, and in our connections with other living things. Just from observing nature, its cycles, or from observing the movement of the sun and moon – we can gain invaluable lessons about life and death. Education is the heart of our shared future – and it must involve not only schools, but families and communities.

The five human values

The Human Values Education Program (Education in Human Values – EHV) which many years ago my beloved teacher Sathya Sai Baba introduced it reminds us of the essence: Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love and Nonviolence. These principles can be a guide for parents, teachers, and anyone who wants to build a healthier community. Of course, practicing them does not happen overnight. We need to gradually replace old habits and attitudes with new, positive ones. Small steps are key, because otherwise the task can seem too big.

A simple but powerful practice is to dedicate each week to a value – for example, a week of love, a week of truth, or a week of peace. In this way, the values become alive in everyday life and begin to create real transformation – in children, in adults, in families, and in communities.

Changing the education model

The traditional “classical model” of education that we use does not meet the needs of today’s students. Today’s world demands schools that are more relational, supportive, and focused on the development of the child as a whole being – we need people who are compassionate, creative, and able to build relationships, and above all, who can deal with the challenges that will arise before them.

The importance of mindfulness

Researchers and practitioners for mindfulness  emphasize that education is as much about mindfulness as it is about teaching methods. What young people need most are adults who are caring, attentive, and present—people who listen and who set an example with their calm and stability. In a time when stress is “contagious,” a mindful, calm teacher or parent can change the entire atmosphere in the classroom.

Heart education

The Dalai Lama has said: "My hope and desire is that one day formal education will pay attention to what I call 'education of the heart.'" This vision is universal – to learn from nature, to build schools that develop the whole child, and to cultivate presence and compassion in our relationships by putting human values into practice.

The education we need today is not just the transmission of knowledge, but also the cultivation of values and inner capacities that will help us face the future with wisdom and care.

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🌿 The greatest opportunity for Macedonia today is precisely this: to build an educational system and communities that will live and nurture these five values – Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love and Nonviolence – and through them to strengthen the connection with ourselves, with others and with the world around us.

Biljana Pesheva

author, coach, yoga instructor, and family constellation therapist, with over 25 years of experience in personal development, mental health, and holistic practices.