The Macedonian students named runners-up at the European Money Quiz – The achievement celebrated at the MBA

Today, at the premises of the Macedonian Banking Association (MBA), a ceremonial event was held to celebrate the second-place victory at the European Money Quiz by the Macedonian team, consisting of students Marin Hristoski and Aleksej Mickoski from the “Kire Gavrilovski – Jane” primary school in Prilep, under the mentorship of their teacher Sonja Jordanoska.

The finale of this prestigious financial literacy competition took place on May 23, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium, organized by the European Banking Federation.

The event was opened by PhD. Maja Stevkova-Shterieva, President of the Macedonian Banking Association. Attendees were also addressed by PhD. Trajko Slaveski, Governor of the National Bank, MSc. Bujare Abazi, President of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and PhD. Vesna Janevska, Minister of Education and Science.

In her address, the president of the MBA, PhD. Stevkova-Shterieva emphasized the importance of this success as a source of motivation and national pride:

“Let this recognition be an encouragement for other students to be bold, to learn, to explore, and to dream. Because education is the key that opens all doors – in both personal and professional life. Your success is not only your personal achievement. It is also the success of your teachers, your families, your school, and all of us who believe in the value of knowledge and investment in youth,” said Stevkova-Shterieva.

The Governor of the National Bank, PhD. Trajko Slaveski, stated that the continuous advancement of youth knowledge, including in the field of finance, is the best investment for a stable and responsible future for any society. The National Bank constantly strives to raise awareness among young people about the importance of financial literacy through various educational activities.

“The first national Strategy for Financial Education and Financial Inclusion, adopted by the National Bank and other financial regulators, includes activities aimed at increasing the presence of financial education in formal education, where collaboration and support from the relevant ministry will be of immense importance,” emphasized Governor Slaveski.

The President of the Securities and Exchange Commission, MSc. Bujare Abazi, said:

“This project is part of a broader mission – to encourage young people to become financially literate, responsible, and confident in making decisions regarding their finances and future. Today is a quiz, tomorrow is real life. We live in a world full of information, finance is becoming increasingly complex, and digital technologies are constantly changing how we use resources. That’s why, as a securities market regulator, we see our role not only in supervision but also in education. Our interest is to have professionals who understand the financial services they use, thereby avoiding unnecessary risks and minimizing consequences, which contributes to a more stable financial system. Financial literacy and a skilled workforce are now considered particularly scarce resources and are a fundamental prerequisite for building efficient and competitive financial markets,” concluded Abazi.

The Minister of Education and Science, PhD. Vesna Janevska, stated that second place among teams from 30 countries is a remarkable achievement and confirms that Macedonian students have a strong understanding of economic processes and excellent knowledge of money management, budget planning, and financial investment.

“The Ministry is committed to increasing financial literacy among all youth, and that is why we will deepen our cooperation with financial institutions such as the National Bank, the Macedonian Banking Association, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and so on. Together, we will shape a model to more effectively provide financial education to the new generations,” said Janevska.

She added that the Ministry and the Government have already increased funding for supporting talented students, so they can participate in major international Olympiads without any concerns.

The European vice champions themselves also spoke at the ceremony and were presented with certificates and gifts. Awards were also given to the second and third-place teams from the national competition:
– Ana Grbic and Mila Ignjatovska from “Vasil Antevski-Dren” Highschool in Skopje, under the mentorship of professor Biljana Ninovska,
– Katja Ivanovska and Nikifor Kiskoski from “Ljuben Lape” Primary School – Aerodrom, Skopje, under the mentorship of teacher Andrijana Saveska.

This year’s European Money Quiz saw record participation – over 73,000 students from 2,877 schools took part in national competitions across 30 European countries. The two-day final, which included youth networking activities, gathered 60 finalists. The team from Italy won first place, while third place went to Sweden. The Macedonian Banking Association, in cooperation with the National Bank and the Securities and Exchange Commission, and with support from the Ministry of Education and Science, remains committed to advancing financial literacy as a key element in preparing young people for active and responsible participation in the economy.