Skopje, 24 March 2025 (MIA) - All schools, kindergartens, public institutions, cultural institutions and sports halls across the country are safe, we can conclude this after emergency inspections that involved inspectors from the central Government as well, said the head of the Association of Local Self-Government Units (ZELS) and Mayor of the Municipality of Kisela Voda Orce Gjorgjievski on Monday.

Gjorgjievski said inspections were carried out in over 90 percent of schools and kindergartens nationwide, with inspections set to conclude “very soon” in the remaining ones.

Inspections will continue in the coming period. According to Gjorgjievski ZELS recommended Monday that municipalities carry out strict controls in all residential buildings.

“In the coming period there will be inspectors on the ground practically everywhere. We concluded that there is a lack of inspectors in certain municipalities. All of this will be overcome with mutual coordination in the coming period, with municipalities cooperating to inspect every building and ensure it is safe,” Gjorgjievski said.

Asked why they waited until now to carry out inspections, Gjorgjievski said inspections were carried out last year as well, but no one informed the public about them.

“No mayor would allow children to go to kindergartens and schools without [the buildings] being inspected. In my municipality, all eight schools were inspected before New Year’s and there are records of that,” Gjorgjievski said.

Asked if there should be legal amendments for the inspections, Gjorgjievski said he believes the legislation isn’t very clear and work will be done on that in the coming period.

“A working group was established which will work on a unified program and a rulebook for installing urban equipment that will be the same in all municipalities. If they determine that legal interventions are needed for this to be unified on a national level, we will request that,” Gjorgjievski said.

The head of ZELZ said the biggest issue is the urban equipment in cafés.

“Shortcomings were detected in many of the inspected hospitality buildings. A deadline has been given for their correction. I think we should give them a month to fix the shortcomings,” Gjorgjievski added.

According to the head of ZELS, there is a shortage of at least 40 building inspectors and pressure will be exerted in the Ministry of Finance in the coming period to approve the hiring of new inspectors wherever there is a shortage. 

Photo: MIA