Skopje, 1 September 2025 (MIA) - The new 2025-2026 school year begins Monday with 245,000 students, including 177,800 elementary school students and 67,200 high school students, going back to school. Data involving 17,250 first graders and 17,230 first-year high school students have been sent to the Education Ministry, however, the data are not final because the schools are still sending numbers.

The school year will end on June 10, with the exception of high school graduates, whose classes will end on May 15. Textbooks for all students have been printed and for the first time in seven years, foreign languages textbooks will be handed out. Artificial intelligence is being introduced in schools and more educational assistants had been hired in elementary schools and, for the first time, in high schools.

Speaking at a news conference on Sunday, Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska said teaching conditions had improved in a number of schools.

“For a second school year in a row, there will be textbooks for all students. There are completely new textbooks for the seventh grade in elementary education and for the first time in high schools, due to the implementation of new curricula. This process of renewal of the teaching content will have continuity. For the first time in seven years, students will also receive textbooks in foreign languages ​​- English, French, German and Italian,” Janevska said.

Artificial intelligence is being introduced in classes after a comprehensive manual to train teachers and students has been prepared teaching them about ethical and efficient application of new technological tools in education.

To mark the start of the new school year, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and Education Minister Vesna Janevska will visit Kiril Pejchinovikj school in Skopje’s Kisela Voda municipality. He is due to speak to members of the media.

MIA file photo