One‑shift schooling to start in some schools this autumn, others in spring — Janevska

Education authorities are carrying out adaptations, extensions and renovations in six schools to introduce one‑shift schooling, with plans to implement the same project in a further 15 schools. Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska said a portion of the works will start this autumn, while the remainder are scheduled to begin in the spring.

Janevska made the announcement during a site visit to the extension at Alexander the Great Primary School in the Reon Center. "One of the schools where this project is being carried out is this school where we are adding three classrooms to provide appropriate conditions for students, but also for teachers to gain their knowledge. And in municipalities where there is an increase in pupils we are managing to implement the one‑shift schooling project," she said.

Aerodrom municipality mayor Dejan Miteski said the new classrooms will be equipped by the municipality together with the school.

Preparations ahead of the school year

Janevska also noted that textbooks have already been delivered ahead of the new academic year. She added that any measure to reduce the cost of school supplies would need to be proposed by the Ministry of Economy.

At the beginning of the month, Janevska reported that one‑shift schooling has been introduced in more than 200 schools, and that it is almost fully implemented in schools across several municipalities, including Kavadarci, Gjorche Petrov, Prilep, Bitola and Shtip.

Officials say the staggered timetable — with construction starting for some schools this autumn and for others in spring — is intended to ease overcrowding, create better conditions for teaching and learning, and allow municipalities to coordinate procurement and staffing as new classrooms come online.

Photo: press material from the event