Macedonian Youth Violence Rises, Psychologists Call for Parental Responsibility

Recent incidents of violence among young people in Macedonia have prompted psychologists to warn that sudden changes in a child's behavior may signal abuse or family problems. They stress that early identification by teachers and collaboration with families are essential to prevent peer‑to‑peer aggression.

Psychologist Safet Ballazhi emphasized the lack of parental accountability, noting that some parents protect violent children instead of cooperating with schools. The Ministry of Education, led by Vesna Janevska, announced continued sensitisation meetings with parents and schools and indicated forthcoming legislative measures that could impose financial fines on parents or guardians whose children are found to have committed school violence.