Students ask for 200-denar meal, Janevska proposes voucher system

29 October 2026 — Students continue to press the government for a higher subsidised daily meal allowance, asking to raise the current 140 denars to 200 denars, after talks between student representatives and the Ministry of Education and Science failed to produce a final figure.

The Ministry has put forward a new voucher-based model for using the subsidy, modelled on Slovenia’s system, which would restrict the subsidy to food purchases at approved operators. Minister Vesna Janevska said the plan aims to ensure the money is spent only on meals and that the government expects responses from student bodies before finalising details.

Students insist price must rise along with the new system

“We offered them a new systemic solution, appropriate to what is called a student subsidised meal, according to their demands from the past, similar to what the Republic of Slovenia has. Of course we will find a solution, at this moment we are still discussing, we expect their answers, but I believe that in the end we will all be satisfied with the outcome,” Janevska said.

The minister explained the proposal would limit purchases of goods such as alcohol and cigarettes and require the vouchers to be accepted only by operators registered in the scheme. She also announced that the subsidy will be increased, but that the exact amount still needs to be negotiated.

Angela Vasilevska, president of the University Student Council at UKIM, welcomed examination of a new subsidy mechanism but reiterated that students expect a clear response regarding the requested increase to 200 denars. She said the initiative to raise the meal allowance was submitted more than a month and a half ago and that students had given the authorities until 1 October to reply.

“We gave time already at the start when we submitted the initiative, and that was until 1 October. Considering that the initiative was submitted more than a month and a half ago, we, that is the students, have been left waiting for more than a month and a half and are still expecting an answer,” Vasilevska said.

Vasilevska announced that the National Student Body plans to organise a digital student referendum next week so students can vote on the proposed changes to the subsidised meal system. She warned that if the state does not respond and student living standards continue to be treated as a luxury, further steps will be considered.

Discussions between the Ministry and student representatives are ongoing; the final model and the new daily subsidy level remain to be agreed.

Photo: press material from the event