44 schools closed for 10 years in North Macedonia
Express newspaper
13/08/2025 10:21
In the last 10 years, over 350 public schools have closed in Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, reflecting a deep demographic and educational crisis in the region.
According to official data, 295 public schools were closed in Albania from 2012 to 2022. In Kosovo, 40 schools were closed in the period 2013-2023, while in North Macedonia, the number ranges from 30 to 44 closed schools. These are not just statistical data, but an alarm bell for the future of our societies.
The decline in the birth rate, emigration to Western countries, and consequently the emptying of villages, are the main factors that have led to the closure of hundreds of educational institutions.
In Albania, the situation has led to an unusual imbalance in the teacher-student ratio. In some cases, the ratio is 7 teachers to 3 students. The most difficult situation is in rural areas where families leave for the cities for a better life.
In Kosovo, there are schools that operate with only 5-10 students, and in some cases even fewer. The number of students in secondary education in 2024/2025 was 63.551.
Compared to the previous year 2023/2024 (which had 65.757 students), respectively, within one year the number of students in secondary education has decreased by more than 2.000.
In North Macedonia, Education Minister Vesna Janevska has proposed converting closed school buildings into senior centers, a decision that further highlights the demographic shift. Fewer young people, more elderly. /TRTBalkan/