Centar to provide free uniforms for all primary school pupils

The Municipality of Centar will continue its programme this school year to supply free uniforms to every pupil from first through ninth grade across the eight primary schools within its territory.

Every student will receive a five-piece cotton set: two polo shirts, two long-sleeve shirts and a zip-up hoodie. The measure is intended to reduce visible economic differences among pupils and promote a sense of equality at school, municipality officials said.

Municipal support for first-graders

In addition to the uniform sets, the municipality has arranged a free backpack for every first-grader who takes a seat in a Centar classroom this September. Officials described the backpacks as part of a package designed to ease the transition into school for families.

"School should be a place where children are distinguished by knowledge, effort and achievement, not by what they wear or how much their parents can afford. With uniforms we reduce social differences and create a sense of equality and belonging among all pupils," said Mayor Goran Gerasimovski.

The report also notes a separate measure in a neighbouring municipality: for each first-grader in Gazi Baba, the local government provides 3,000 denars.

Municipal authorities said distribution will be organised through the schools before classes are fully underway, and that the programme will cover all pupils enrolled in the eight primary schools in Centar for the coming academic year.

Photo: Sloboden pechat / Slobodan Gjurikj