Skopje, 16 May 2023 (MIA) - The Government at a session on Tuesday adopted a set of recommendations intended for schools in order to react cautiously and appropriately in this extremely sensitive time to increase safety in school facilities, Minister of Education and Science Jeton Shaqiri told a press conference at the Government. 

The Minister added that it is a set of ten government that are the result of a broad consultation process which includes proposals from the academic and expert public, pointing out that he is confident in the effectiveness of the recommendations.  

"First, we recommend that all local self-governments, in cooperation with the inter-municipal centers for social work, set up expert teams at a municipal level, whose focus of work will be conversation, with every student in every school. Second, the State Council for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency is tasked to submit reports on the work including the number of municipal councils for prevention covered, and to strengthen communication with the Education Ministry in the coming period towards activities undertaken in building a climate of trust and well-being in schools. The activities of the municipal councils should also include the Union of High School Students," said Shaqiri.  

Third, he added, all elementary and high schools are instructed to hold meetings with all parents and guardians on the topic of "Improving the processes, safety of the organization and the conditions of school facilities and the environment". At the end of the meetings it is necessary to open a discussion whether school uniforms are needed as a dress code for students, parents should be informed about the teachers' code of ethics, and it should be considered whether the current code of ethics should also include school staff dress codes for teachers and expert services.

Shaqiri noted that it was necessary at the parent-teacher conferences that parents and guardians be briefed on the legal obligations arising from the Family Law and the Criminal Law in the area of ​​responsibility in the exercise of parental rights. Schools are required to inform the Ministry of Education and Science about parent attendance at the meetings, where everyone should be informed about the ten recommendations that have been adopted.

"In crisis situations that can negatively affect the behavior of students, it is necessary for the management, teachers and expert services to respond appropriately, to discuss and monitor the mental state of young people, to offer support in overcoming challenges and to enable overcoming insecurity and maintaining the feeling of safety in schools. Every school should also prepare a protocol on using the mobile phones of the students and the teachers during the classes in the school premises. Eliminating mobile phone use during class will encourage more discussion, exchange of ideas, etc.," Shaqiri said.  

The Ministry of Education and the Education Development Bureau will prepare a list of resources that will be discussed in the classroom between teachers and students, and will serve to promote the well-being of students, including life skills manuals, a program for psychosocial assistance and support in promoting children's well-being and mental health.

The Minister added that the municipalities and the City of Skopje are advised to develop and further strengthen preventive programs in the new annual school work program for the promotion of students' well-being, protection against violence, abuse, prevention of discrimination, cooperation with parents/guardians.

"School principals are instructed to provide continuously uninterrupted conditions for the expert services to function in the school climate. Every school is advised to provide a space for collaborators in order to be open to students and if they need to schedule a tête-à-tête meeting with their school psychologist. The Ministry of Education, together with the expert collaborators, will set up a working group that will have to create protocols for appropriate work in providing psychosocial support to students and monitoring mental health," Shaqiri said.

The recommendations take effect immediately, and the Minister will forward them to the schools and the municipalities. They will also be made publicly available. Shaqiri urges for full compliance with the recommendations.