Pupils Threaten To Boycott Macedonian Classes

The introduction of Macedonian language classes for first graders from ethnic minorities, including the Albanians who make up one-quarter of the population, followed a decision by the Ministry of Education and Science.

The decision has led to resistance among parents of Albanian pupils, who have announced they will boycott the classes, while several NGOs from Skopje, Tetovo and Gostivar have submitted an initiative to the Constitutional Court calling for an annulment of the decision.

They argue that the adding of a third language in the first grade - alongside their mother tongue and English - will overburden students. Until this year, ethnic minority students were not required to take Macedonian language classes until the third grade.

Education Minister Nikola Todorov said he did not plan to reverse the decision, adding that the children would be required to learn only basic Macedonian language skills.

He urged the mayors of the municipalities concerned to prevent the boycott, which he suggested was largely political in nature.

The leader of the ethnic albanian party included in the government, Ali Ahmeti of the Democratic Union for Integration,DUI, recently said that the issue remained open for discussion.