Skopje, 9 March 2024 (MIA) – Students need better studying conditions through the reduction of the financial burden of studies and digitization of universities, said participants at Saturday’s student forum hosted by the Forum for Educational Change at the Youth Cultural Center (MKC).

The head of the Forum for Educational Change, Blendi Hodai, said the event aims to create a platform through which the issues of students would be discussed in order to identify solutions.

“The goal of today’s event is to create a platform through the student forum, where all students at state and private universities will come together to discuss the issues we face and the solutions we need to take. Additionally, I am glad that seven universities in the country signed a joint declaration yesterday over the establishment of a national student body that will act as a legitimate informal platform where they will come together to boost their capacities, and where the representatives of the students will have an easier time advocating for the students,” said Hodai.

Hodai said the Forum for Educational Change carried out studies  over the past period which confirmed the current issues faced by students.

“The Forum for Educational Change carried out studies in terms of the financial implications of four or five years of studies for the students in the country, and we found that the financial burden is much greater than just the funds for the tuition per semester. In order to help with the financial burden, we need free undergraduate studies. The second issue that is often brought up is the fact that our universities, especially the state universities, are not digitized at all, except for ‘Goce Delchev’ and this causes additional issues for the students,” said Hodai.

Hodai also highlighted the issue of delayed payments of student scholarships, and urged timelier payments.

Photo: MIA