26 rural schools to close, some 300 class sections cut ahead of new school year

North Macedonia will open the new school year after closing 26 rural schools and cutting about 300 class sections nationwide — roughly 200 in primary education and 100 in secondary — the Ministry of Education and Science says. Pupils from the closed schools will be enrolled in nearby institutions.

Ministry says moves aim to improve socialisation and quality

Vesna Janevska, Minister of Education and Science, defended the decisions as measures meant to improve pupils’ opportunities. "This is done to enable students to socialise and to achieve a better quality of education, not to isolate them in a rural environment where certain principles and stereotypes prevail, and where the quality of education cannot be adequate because of the small number of pupils, especially in combined classes that include pupils from three different grades," she said.

The ministry also said that textbooks have already been distributed to schools across the country. Janevska did not rule out parents lodging complaints if they receive damaged books, but indicated the responsibility in such cases falls on teachers who did not request replacements in time.

Education statisticians at the ministry note that this school year some 14,500 first-graders will start classes — almost 3,000 fewer than the previous cohort, when about 17,000 pupils were enrolled in first grade.

Officials emphasised that closures reflect ongoing demographic decline in rural settlements and aim to concentrate resources and classmates so pupils can learn together. The ministry said parents who oppose the changes will be invited to meetings at the ministry to discuss specific cases.

With the school year set to begin in one week, the ministry reiterated it will monitor transfers and textbook replacements and work with local schools to minimise disruption for affected pupils and staff.

Photo: press material from the event