The Minister of Education and Science, Vesna Jnevska, said today that the PISA test results mainly reflect reforms implemented earlier in the education system.

Jnevska explained that the current government took office in 2024, while the testing was conducted just six months later, in 2025. According to her, the impact of the reform currently being implemented in Macedonia’s education system will be possible to assess in around ten years.

The PISA 2025 data, which measure students’ ability to solve problems and apply knowledge in practical situations, show that students in Macedonia performed below the OECD average in mathematics, reading and science, as well as in computer-based problem-solving.

In mathematics, 15-year-olds from North Macedonia recorded a decline compared with 2022. Meanwhile, results in reading and science remained almost unchanged. The minister also recalled that the country’s students had performed better in 2001.

“Unfortunately, in 2001 we achieved better results in reading and comprehension. We achieved our best results in 2018, which, according to teachers and analyses, was the result of the ‘Cambridge’ reform. We will see the results of the reform currently being implemented when these students turn 15, that is, in around 9-10 years. Unfortunately, this is not only about curricula. We will also have to pay much more attention to the other elements that make up the education system,” Janevska said.

The PISA 2025 results show a global decline in performance in reading and mathematics, a development that has also been linked to artificial intelligence. Asked how the education system could respond to this phenomenon, which affects attention, concentration and the learning process, the minister said that technology is considered by some theories to be an important factor influencing international results.

“But there are also other theories that the entire social situation in certain countries, as well as the global situation, have a considerable impact. We still cannot say that artificial intelligence alone contributes seriously to this. Social media, the uncontrolled use of phones and tablets may have a greater impact. We will address this in the classic way, the approach we constantly promote: children must learn to write and read traditionally, develop their motor skills and minds, while teachers must teach them how to use technology to support critical thinking and critical analysis. That is why I said that it is not just one element that affects the results,” Janevska declared.

Regarding the use of mobile phones during lessons, the minister said that in a large number of schools in Macedonia, phones are not used throughout the day.

“Children leave their phones in special devices intended for this purpose—boxes or various fabric holders where they place their phones. Teachers explicitly require them to do this. They use them only in exceptional cases and only in schools where information technology has not yet been provided to help in this regard,” Janevska replied.

According to PISA 2025 data, only 32 percent of students in mathematics achieved at least the basic level, while the OECD average is 65 percent. In science, around 36 percent of the country’s students mastered the basic concepts and, according to the report, no student reached the highest levels, 5 or 6. In reading, only around 26 percent of students in North Macedonia reached level 2 or above, while none of the students tested reached the highest level.

PERMBAJTJA:

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Primary and secondary schools across Macedonia will open their doors tomorrow, while September 1 will mark the first time around 14,500 first-graders take their seats in the classroom. They will encounter a new environment, new teachers and new classmates.

The decline in student numbers is also expected to affect how classes are organized. During the 2026/2027 school year, around 200 fewer classes are expected to operate in primary education and 100 fewer in secondary education.

At the same time, it has been announced that 26 rural schools will close because no first-grade students have enrolled in any of them. Until now, some of these schools have had only five to eight students attending classes.

Final data on the number of primary and secondary school students who will return to class tomorrow have not yet been published. The latest complete figures from the State Statistical Office show that at the start of the 2025/2026 school year, regular primary education had 174,040 students, while secondary education had 67,540, for a total of 241,580 students.

One year earlier, 17,921 students were enrolled in first grade. Compared with that figure and the approximately 14,500 students expected to start first grade this year, the decline is considerable. However, the exact difference will be determined only after supplementary enrollment closes.

The Ministry of Education and Science says textbooks have been delivered to schools and are now available to students. In accordance with the academic calendars for public primary and secondary schools, classes begin on September 1.

On the occasion of the start of the new school year, drivers are advised to exercise particular caution near schools, pedestrian crossings and bus stops. Many more children are expected to be in these areas in the coming days.

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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.

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/

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Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska announced today that around 4,900 fewer pupils are expected to start first grade in September compared with last year. She explained that this figure is not yet final.

According to Janevska, a decline in the number of pupils is being observed in both primary and secondary education. Secondary schools recorded a decrease this year, but it was not drastic, while the figures may change because the third enrollment period will also be held in August. In primary schools, meanwhile, the decline is significant, with more than 4,000 fewer children than a year ago.

The minister reiterated that pupil enrollment will continue and, for this reason, the current figures cannot be considered final.

Janevska said that, although it is regrettable, the data reflect a fact also published by the State Statistical Office. From last year to this year, there are approximately 4,900 fewer first-graders. Even if another 2,000 are enrolled, she said, there will still be at least 3,000 fewer first-graders. She warned that the same trend is expected to continue next year as well, describing this as distressing for the country.

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