Skopje, 1 September 2021 (MIA) — Around 187,000 thousand elementary school students and 70,000 high schoolers started the 2021-22 school year in person under the Ministry of Education and Science’s Covid-19 protocols. "Safe conditions are provided in the schools, and the situation is being managed on a daily basis," Minister Mila Carovska concluded at an online meeting with school principals on Wednesday afternoon. According to the Ministry of Education and Science in a press release, the education system is generally ready for the new academic year and the protocols are being implemented as planned. "I would like to congratulate you all for your utmost commitment to getting the new school year off to a good start,” Minister Carovska said, encouraging all meeting participants “to continue working with the same commitment and enthusiasm.” “We have a common goal: to provide quality contemporary education for every child. We all saw how important it is to be in the classroom, so I urge you to consistently follow the protocols,” she added. Carovska pointed out that instruction, according to the Ministry of Education and Science’s scenarios, could also continue online or as a mix of online and in-person learning, depending on the epidemiological situation. In its release, the Ministry of Education and Science says that Carovska and the principals also discussed the start of the elementary education reforms in the country and the newly introduced curricula for the first and the fourth grade. mr/