Political reactions after Minister Janevska's message to first-graders
Political parties say the demographic crisis is not solved with appeals, but with economic policies and measures.
Members of parliament and party headquarters gave sharp reactions after the Minister of Education and Science, Vesna Janevska, on the first day of the school year told first-graders to ask for "a brother or sister." The statement stirred public discourse about the decline in student numbers and the country's demographic challenges.
After visiting Primary School "Aco Shopov" in Radishani (Butel municipality), where she also spoke about the importance of gaining knowledge, Janevska explained that she wanted to emphasize the importance of human capital and the worrying demographic trends.
Party positions: "Appeals do not solve it"
Levica rejected the message as insufficient and proposed economic measures: that the state assume 20 percent of the remaining housing loan for each newborn or adopted child. MP Amar Mecinovic said: "Levica proposes the forgiveness of part of the loans in families on the basis of each newborn or adopted child. For each newborn or adopted child the state would assume 20 percent of the remaining housing loan. Unlike Minister Vesna Janevska, we propose 20 percent for a brother and 20 percent for a sister."
SDSM cited the numbers as proof of the seriousness of the situation: "We have 3,000 fewer first-graders, 148 empty school buildings, 433 fewer classes and the closure of 26 branch schools. The picture at the start of the school year has never been more sorrowful," the party stated, pointing to emigration, economic difficulties and the blockage of the path to the EU among the reasons.
The LDP described the statement as "shameful and without a shred of empathy," stressing that such a message can hurt children from different family circumstances and demanded a public apology from the minister and the Government.
Janevska said that "I did not intend to offend anyone" and that she wanted to point to the alarming demographic decline. She warned that "if we continue like this, we will constantly close schools" and called for joint efforts to improve living conditions, reduce emigration and stabilize demographics. According to data from the Ministry of Education and Science, this school year there are almost 3,000 fewer first-graders than last year, 148 empty school buildings and the temporary closure of 26 branch schools.
Photo: press material from the event
