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Dellçeva Municipality closes four regional schools due to declining enrollment
The Dellçeva Municipality has decided to temporarily suspend operations at four regional schools located in the villages of Gabrovo, Zvegor, Stamer, and Virçe. The decision follows a sharp decline in student enrollment and rising maintenance costs.
According to municipal data, the functioning of these regional schools costs approximately five million denars annually for each of the two parent schools. Enrollment in the municipality has seen a steady decrease; in the 2025/2026 school year, there are 1,236 students, representing a drop of 145 students compared to the 2022/2023 academic year. The decline is particularly notable in secondary education, where numbers fell from 390 to 304 over two years.
This trend reflects broader demographic shifts in the Eastern Region. State Statistical Office data shows that in 2024, the region recorded 936 live births against 1,974 deaths, resulting in a natural population decrease of 1,038 residents.
Entities
Dellçeva Municipality · Gabrovo · Stamer · Virçe · Zvegor
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Operating these regional schools costs approximately five million denars per year for each of the two parent schools. gazeta.mk · lajmpress.org
- [● 2 SOURCES] The school closures are due to a drastic decrease in student numbers and high maintenance costs. gazeta.mk · lajmpress.org
- [● 2 SOURCES] In the Eastern Region, 936 live births were recorded in 2024 compared to 1,974 deaths, resulting in a natural population decrease of 1,038. gazeta.mk · lajmpress.org
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Dellçeva Municipality has decided to temporarily suspend operations at four regional schools in Gabrovo, Zvegor, Stamer, and Virçe. gazeta.mk · lajmpress.org
- [● 2 SOURCES] In the 2025/2026 school year, the municipality has a total of 1,236 students, which is 145 fewer than in the 2022/2023 school year. gazeta.mk · lajmpress.org