[CLSTR]
< Back to situation

[REVISION HISTORY]

Albanian-language school closures in North Macedonia

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-31 22:27 UTC → 2026-09-01 20:07 UTC · added removed

Controversy has emerged in North Macedonia regarding the closure of Albanian-language educational programs in different municipalities. In Butel Municipality, the Petar Zdravkovski-Penko primary school decided to close an Albanian-language parallel class for first-grade students. The school director stated the reorganization followed Ministry of Education and Science guidelines due to insufficient student numbers. However, local political figures and parents have alleged discrimination, noting that Macedonian and Turkish language classes with fewer students remained active. Critics Mayor Darko Kostovski announced a selective solution reached with the Ministry of Education, stating that students from other municipalities, such as Čair, may only be admitted if they have a sibling already enrolled. Kostovski maintained this measure is intended to ensure quality education and is not ethnically motivated. Political representatives from BDI, AKI, and VLEN have criticized the move, with BDI describing the condition as ‘discriminatory, illegal, and conditional.’ AKI and VLEN representatives walked out of a municipal session in protest, claiming the mayor treated the closure as a ‘fait accompli.’ Teachers have also raised concerns regarding registration criteria for children living near municipal borders. double standards in class size requirements. In Struga, the municipal council voted to close several Albanian-language schools in the peripheral areas of Bogovicë, Pohum, Zhepin, and Nerez. Ziadin Sela, Chairman of the Albanian League, condemned the decision, accusing councilors of acting against the Albanian language and its educational heritage. Sela invoked the legacy of the Albanian National Renaissance to highlight the cultural significance of the schools.

Versions

  1. 2026-09-01 20:07 UTC Albanian-language school closures in North Macedonia
  2. 2026-08-31 22:27 UTC Albanian-language school closures in North Macedonia

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.