Skopje, 22 September 2025 (MIA) — Following a week of online classes to protect schoolchildren from inhaling toxic chemicals in the air from the Trubarevo electronic waste warehouse fire, which is currently under control, around 1,800 schoolchildren went back to school in person Monday in four local elementary schools after the government's decision to move their classes online expired.

Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska said Monday if the state's environmental and health authorities provided any information that the children's and teachers' health was in danger, classes would be moved online again. But, according to Janevska, there is no danger.

"As of today, students from Trubarevo's four schools are back in person," she told reporters Monday.

"If the Ministry of Environment or the Ministry of Health informed us of any change in the situation, we would again decide to move them to online instruction just as promptly as we decided Saturday and Sunday.

"But as of yet, there is no danger, so they will be going to school in person because there is no better way of instruction and no better student achievements than in person," Janevska said. 

To protect schoolchildren from inhaling harmful compounds released by burning electronic waste, which can lead to severe health effects including respiratory damage, neurological disorders, increased cancer risk and developmental issues in children, the education authorities said Krum Toshev Elementary, Njegosh Elementary, Vera Jocikj Elementary and Naum Naumovski Borche Elementary should move classes online for five days, Sept. 14-19, after a fire broke out in an e-waste warehouse in Gazi Baba's village of Trubarevo on Sept. 13. mr/