The new 2026/2027 school year is expected to begin with a significant reduction in the number of primary and secondary school classes. Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska announced that primary schools will have around 200 fewer classes, while secondary education is expected to see a further reduction of 100 classes.
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This reduction is mainly linked to the declining number of students. This year, for the first time, around 14,500 children have enrolled in first grade, a figure that also reflects the demographic changes facing the education system.
The decline in student numbers is also directly affecting how the school network is organized. As part of efforts to optimize the network and transition to single-shift schooling, 26 schools in rural areas are expected to cease operating naturally, as no students will enroll in first grade at those schools this year.
According to Janevska, the institutions have completed preparations for the start of the school year, while students will be provided with the necessary textbooks. The books have already been delivered and are now in schools, with the minister emphasizing that this year’s distribution process was completed significantly earlier than usual.
The downward trend is not limited to primary education. Estimates by the Ministry of Education and Science show that there will be at least 3,000 fewer students in the first year of secondary education in the coming school year. Meanwhile, the decrease in student numbers is also gradually extending to higher education.
Fewer secondary school graduates will inevitably mean fewer potential university students in the future. However, Janevska pointed out that another challenge is the uneven distribution of interest among study programs: some fields attract considerable interest, while other programs have significantly fewer applicants.
Regarding subsidized student meals, the Ministry of Education and Science has not yet announced any change to the current amount. Janevska said that the Ministry has so far not received any official request from student organizations for an increase in funding./Telegrafi/
