Steve Naumov dorm reopens in Skopje; about 250 students left temporarily without rooms
Reopened after two years of works, the dorm offers improved facilities while around 250 students wait for placement as complaints and documentation checks continue.
After two years of renovation the student dormitory "Steve Naumov" in Skopje reopened its doors, but the start of the academic season left about 250 applicants without an assigned room because their documentation was incomplete.
Student representatives from seven universities have formally asked the Ministry of Education and Science to raise the daily subsidised meal from 140 to 200 denars. The ministry's initial response is that the proposal "will be calculated" and officials say they must first check whether the budget can cover the additional 60 denars per student.
"We are still analysing; we'll see, and together with the students I hope we will find some joint solution that will be acceptable to all of us, again within budgetary possibilities," Vesna Janevska said.
About 250 candidates did not receive placement in the dorms because they lacked complete documentation. Complaints have been filed and are currently under review; some applicants may be admitted after the review while others will have to wait for the next vacancy contest. A new competition for places in the "Kuzman Josifovski–Pitu" dorm is expected before that facility opens in November.
"All students are accommodated. They are housed in Goce, they are housed in this dorm. In this dorm there are still several empty rooms, including the placement of freshmen. When we also accommodate the freshmen, no student will remain without a student room if they meet the conditions," Janevska said.
Renovation and costs
The reopened Steve Naumov building offers warmer, cleaner rooms and refurbished bathrooms, improvements the dormitory management says will raise living and study standards for current residents. Aleksandar Karovski, director of the State Student Dormitory Skopje, appealed to students to take care of the facility so future generations can benefit from the investment as well.
Reconstruction of student dormitories across the country has cost a little over €80 million. Of that, €60 million is financed by a loan and another €21 million was provided as a direct grant from the European Union.
Photo: press material from the event
