Skopje, 31 July 2024 (MIA) - At a session Tuesday, the Government established a body within the Ministry of Education and Science that will be tasked with analyzing the work of all state and private universities and the faculties within them.

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said Wednesday if the body identifies "shortcomings" in some higher education institutions, they will be given “a rational timeframe” to eliminate them, if they fail to do so, the PM said the institutions would be closed.

“They will have a rational timeframe to remove the shortcomings. Those who fail to do so will have to be closed, will lose their license for work, their accreditations,” Mickoski said, noting that the Government intends to reform higher education and “establish order” within the institutions.

The Prime Minister said he is “embarrassed” by the complaints he had received from “colleagues abroad” over “issues they have faced with diplomas gained overnight in our country”.

“I was embarrassed at the two places I was, in Washington and in London, where I had a chance to talk with my colleagues from the neighborhood, they all told me – ‘diplomas can be gained overnight in your country, and they cause us issues in our countries’. This can’t be allowed to go on, this must change,” Mickoski said.  

Photo: MIA Archive