Polog region mayors seek reforms to prevent rural school closures

Mayors from the Polog region are calling for legislative changes to prevent the closure of rural schools caused by declining birth rates and the depopulation of mountain villages. To address the risk of school closures and teacher displacement, local leaders plan to submit an official request to the Ministry of Education and Science.

The proposed changes include reducing the required weekly teaching load for educators from 20 hours to 15 hours. Additionally, they are seeking to lower the minimum number of students required per class from over 20 to 15. These measures are intended to maintain educational quality and keep peripheral schools operational.

Blerim Sejdiu, the Mayor of Zhelinas, noted that while no schools in the Polog region have closed yet, the threat is significant for remote areas like the Tetovo mountains. He stated that if a school has even one student, it should remain open, but schools with zero students will inevitably face closure, forcing teachers to transfer to central educational hubs.