Macedonia faces a decline in enrollment, with around 4,900 fewer first-graders

Around 4,900 fewer children are expected to sit at first-grade desks this September compared with last year. Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska said the figure is not yet final, as the enrollment process has not been completed.

Janevska said the decline in the number of students is being observed in both primary and secondary education. According to her, secondary schools have fewer students this year, but the decline is not drastic, while the change in primary education is much greater.

“The number of students is declining, given that we have increasingly fewer pupils in both primary and secondary schools. This year, the number of students in secondary schools has fallen, but not drastically. These figures are not final, because we still have the third enrollment period in August, but the number in primary schools has declined significantly, and we are at a percentage representing more than 4,000 fewer children than last year,” the minister said.

She added that official data had also been published by the State Statistical Office and that, regardless of future enrollments, the final number would remain significantly lower.

“I am sorry that I have to say this, but this is a fact; it has also been published by the State Statistical Office. There are around 4,900 fewer first-graders than last year. No matter how many enroll, even if another 2,000 enroll, we will still have at least 3,000 fewer first-graders. We expect this trend to continue next year as well, which is disheartening for this country,” Janevska said.