Kisela Voda sees influx of first‑graders as national numbers fall
Minister Vesna Janevska hailed an influx of first‑graders in Kisela Voda while confirming a national drop of 4 900 first‑grade enrollments compared with last year.
Kisela Voda municipality reported an influx of first‑grade pupils even as the country records a sharp fall in new enrollments, Education and Science Minister Vesna Janevska said on the day a new sports hall was opened at Krume Kepeski Primary School in the Pripor neighbourhood.
The inauguration was attended by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and Kisela Voda Mayor Beti Stamenkoska Trajkoska, and Janevska used the event to outline a package of school infrastructure works in the municipality.
"In relation to Kisela Voda, besides this hall, we are building a hall in 'Kuzman Josifovski – Pitu', and we will reconstruct halls in 'Krume Kepeski' and 'Kuzman Shapkarev'. Additionally, for the whole Municipality, almost across the board, in 90 percent to have single‑shift teaching, we will add six classrooms in three more schools – 'Kuzman Josifovski – Pitu', 'Krume Kepeski' and in 'Rajko Zinzifov' in Pintija, thereby providing what is a priority for this Government – single‑shift teaching for better quality of instruction in all municipalities. But, here, Kisela Voda has moved closer to the goal of having that everywhere. Kisela Voda is a municipality that has an influx of first‑graders and that makes us especially happy. With that we also try to meet the conditions for them to stay here," Janevska said.
National decline and reasons
About ten days ago Janevska informed that the total number of primary pupils nationwide has fallen significantly and that "we currently have 4 900 first‑graders fewer than last year." She noted the figure is not final because enrollments are still being completed, but said the drop is dramatic.
In a television interview she added that the Ministry expects to have the final count of enrolled first‑graders by the end of September. Janevska pointed to lower natality as a main factor: "The generation that is now enrolling in first grade was born in 2020, and statistical data show that natality in those years recorded a decline. That is one of the reasons for the reduced number of pupils," she told TV Sitel.
Photo: Fejsbuk-profil na Vesna Janevska
