North Macedonia to close 20 regional schools

North Macedonia’s Minister of Education and Science, Vesna Janevska, has announced plans to close approximately 20 regional schools as part of an optimization process aimed at improving education quality. The decision follows a decline in student numbers, which the minister attributes primarily to a trend of decreasing birth rates rather than increased emigration.

Janevska defended the move despite opposition from parents in affected areas, noting that some schools currently have as few as one student per class. She argued that larger group settings are necessary for proper socialization and skill development. The minister noted that in September, there will be approximately 4,900 fewer first-grade students compared to the previous year.