Skopje, 13 August 2024 (MIA) — With the exception of foreign language textbooks, which have been delayed for years because of an ongoing appeals procedure, elementary school students and teachers will have textbooks and teaching materials for all subjects on Sept. 1, according to a Ministry of Education and Science press release quoting Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska as saying in a TV appearance Tuesday. 

According to the official release, Minister Janevska told Kanal 5's morning show that some textbooks had already been distributed to schools and some were being printed and would be delivered in schools by Sept. 1.

"I mentioned the foreign languages, though textbooks for subjects related to the languages and cultures of the communities have not been approved of either, mostly due to the poor quality of the proposed manuscripts," she added.

"But we have made efforts to provide digital materials [in other languages] for students to use," Janevska said.

She added that education authorities were working on bringing back History as a separate subject in the public education system — after it was recently merged with Geography and Civics into one subject — because, she said, experts had said History was a subject of exceptional national importance.

According to Janevska, in addition to teaching about events and persons, the subject also inspired patriotism and loyalty to one's own country "so it should be given special and greater attention across education."

She also said education authorities were considering supporting and including into the formal educational process domestic cartoons, films and educational shows for children as well as picture books and books on successful people or geographical locations.

Asked about preschool education, she said the government "is making serious efforts to provide conditions for as many children as possible to enroll preschool and gain the knowledge that should prepare them well for school."

"We need time and funds for conditions to significantly improve," Janevska said, adding that local self-governments were receiving state funding that should help them build more preschool and childcare centers. mr/