Dramatic drop in number of first-graders: about 4,900 fewer this year

The number of primary school pupils in the country is showing a dramatic decline: the Ministry of Education and Science today announced that this year there are about 4,900 fewer first-graders compared to last year, Minister Vesna Janevska said at a press conference.

Janevska emphasized that the figure is not final because there are still ongoing enrollments, but that even so the country is facing a significant drop in new registrations.

Data, trend and government concern

"The number in elementary schools has decreased significantly and in this percentage it approaches over 4,000 fewer children than last year. The figure is not definitive because registrations are still ongoing, some of them are not reported. I hope that number will fall a little, which is terribly large in terms of the demographic situation. I regret having to say that fact; it has also been published by the State Statistical Office — these are the latest data: about 4,900 fewer first-graders this year than last year. No matter how many enroll, we will have at least 3,000 fewer first-graders. We expect that trend next year as well, which is devastating for this country. For the Government it is a worrying element and we constantly say that special attention must be paid. We as the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) are doing everything to improve conditions to keep them in the country,"

she said Janevska.

She pointed out that the number of students is also decreasing, which, according to her, is a consequence of the ever-smaller number of pupils in primary and secondary schools. Among high school students the trend is visible, but so far not as dramatic.

"Those numbers are not definitive because we also have a third enrollment period in August,"

Janevska said. The average grade on the state Matura exam is 3.66 — Janevska said she is satisfied with the results.

Photo: Printscreen / MIA