Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska presented a summary of accomplishments during her first year in office, emphasizing improvements in textbooks, teacher salaries, school infrastructure, and student support. The ministry is focused on building a modern, competitive, and efficient education system.
A primary focus was addressing the lack of textbooks, a challenge the ministry overcame by printing and delivering approved materials and preparing new teaching aids, including over 100 new titles for secondary vocational education. Procedures for procuring and printing new textbooks for the next academic year, including those for foreign languages, are already underway.
Teacher salaries have seen a phased increase, with over 12% already implemented, and university professors received a 14% increase starting in January. To further support educators, the ministry has reduced administrative burdens, freeing up time for quality teaching.
Infrastructure improvements are underway, with seven new school buildings being constructed, 20 schools reconstructed, four sports halls being built, and two student dormitories in Skopje undergoing thorough renovation. Additionally, over 50 schools will receive photovoltaics, and construction continues on facilities for FINKI and the Faculty of Physical Culture. Construction of campuses for the “Mother Teresa” University and the Faculty of Medicine in Shtip is also planned.
The ministry is prioritizing the optimization of the school network and the introduction of single-shift work to improve teaching quality, socialization, and resource allocation. The number of schools operating in one shift has increased, with more schools set to join.
The budget for scientific research has doubled, with 680 million denars allocated. Three calls for funding innovative projects have been announced, and partnerships have been established with the European Commission’s Research Center. Students and employees of state universities now have free access to Web of Science and Scopus.
Over 2,000 inspections were conducted by the State Education Inspectorate and the Ministry of Education and Science, leading to the closure of 14 private scientific institutes and schools for non-compliance. Lectureships in Macedonian language have been reactivated in several countries.
Five new laws are being introduced to address educational assistants, support talented students and mentors, provide financial assistance for teachers’ associations and Olympiad organizers, and offer formal education for persons in penitentiary institutions and adult students who have not attended school.