North Macedonia's Minister of Education, Vesna Janevska, has announced that a long-standing issue affecting Albanian students in Idrizovo is expected to be resolved before the start of the new academic year.
 |
| Minister of Education Vesna Janevska announced that Albanian students in Idrizovo will be able to attend upper primary education in their mother tongue starting from the 2026–2027 school year. |
In an interview with Alsat's central news program, Janevska expressed confidence that the decades-old problem would receive a positive solution in time for the 2026–2027 school year.
"There is a school there, and this is definitely an issue that can be resolved quickly. The solution will come very soon. Will students be able to study in Albanian in Idrizovo starting in September? Yes, I believe they will be able to learn in their mother tongue from September," Janevska stated.
The minister's comments have raised expectations among local Albanian families who have long demanded equal access to education in their native language within their own community.
During the same interview, Janevska was also asked about the Ministry of Education's lack of response to a request from the Municipality of Krushevo regarding the completion of a primary school building in the village of Nerovë.
The minister said she could not recall all the details of the case but emphasized that the ministry generally responds to requests within 48 hours. She acknowledged the possibility of an administrative oversight and pledged to verify the matter.
"If there has been a request, we usually respond within no more than 48 hours. However, I accept that there may have been an omission within the services. We will verify the situation and respond appropriately, in accordance with our competencies and capabilities," she said.
Janevska also addressed the construction of two schools in the municipality of Chair, projects that were promised at the beginning of her mandate in 2024. While confirming that the schools will eventually be built, she once again declined to provide a specific timeline for their completion.
The minister noted that the school project in Nerovë cannot currently be financed through government funding programs because the municipality did not submit an application under the available public funding calls.
The announcements come amid ongoing discussions about educational infrastructure and language rights in North Macedonia, particularly in areas with significant Albanian populations.