# North Macedonia student meal subsidy dispute

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/north-macedonia-student-meal-subsidy-dispute
> Updated: 2026-10-03T15:20:09.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 2.

In North Macedonia, political and student groups are advocating for reforms to the student meal subsidy system due to rising living costs.

The Levica political party proposed legislative amendments to link the daily meal subsidy to 1% of the minimum wage, which would allow for automatic adjustments. Their proposal also includes extending benefits to part-time students and removing income requirements to ensure more students qualify.

Concurrently, university student assemblies are demanding an increase in the daily allowance from 140 to 200 denars, citing that food prices have risen by over 40 percent in three years. While the Minister of Education and Science proposed a symbolic increase to 147 denars based on a 5.2 percent inflation rate, students have rejected this as insufficient and have threatened protests.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-03: North Macedonian students demand higher meal subsidies

North Macedonian students are demanding a daily meal subsidy increase to 200 denars, rejecting a proposed 147-denar limit set by the Ministry of Education due to high inflation.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/north-macedonian-students-demand-higher-meal-subsidies

### 2026-09-14: Levica proposes linking student meal subsidies to minimum wage

The Levica party proposes linking North Macedonia's student meal subsidy to 1% of the minimum wage and extending benefits to part-time students and all days of the week.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/levica-proposes-linking-student-meal-subsidies-to-minimum-wage

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Cite as: North Macedonia student meal subsidy dispute. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/north-macedonia-student-meal-subsidy-dispute