Skopje, 24 March 2025 (MIA) — Local authorities should make sure every school on their territory has a school emergency response plan, a document describing actions students, teachers, and school staff should take before, during and after emergency events, the Ministry of Education and Science said Monday in a press release.

Municipalities should also make national disaster risk assessments and fire and explosion guidelines approved by the Protection and Rescue Directorate, according to the education authorities, recalling that each municipality, in line with the decentralization process, is responsible for the safety of elementary and high school buildings on its territory. 

Any schools lacking safety guidelines should take immediate action to make sure their students are safe while on the school's premises, the release notes. It adds that schools should also own and regularly maintain safety equipment like fire extinguishers and fire hydrants.

The release adds that as of Monday, the State Education Inspectorate, within its competence, will be inspecting whether school buildings comply with safety standards. mr/