The Union of High School Students told a press conference on Wednesday that the government has rejected their key demand to implement a combined learning model and threatened to boycott classes if a blended approach isn’t introduced in November despite stable epidemiological situation.

“Our key demand, to kick off the new school year with introduction of a combined model, was rejected by the government and education authorities. We agreed to a compromise, in line with epidemiologists’ recommendations, that the schools year starts online. However, if the epidemiological situation is stable, students should gradually return to school with introduction of a blended model. If such approach isn’t implemented, we’ll will boycott online classes starting November,” union representatives said.

They stressed that school closures increase inequality, noting that some 40,000 students through North Macedonia don’t have the means to take part in remote learning.

Union representatives praised the efforts of education authorities to improve remote learning by setting up the national online learning platform, but added that they should be held accountable if the platform in not functional by the time the new school year starts on Thursday.

Moreover, students stressed efforts they’ve made in the past few weeks to submit demands to institutions.

“The government has already accepted a number of our requests, including the one that the school year starts October 1. Moreover, vocational high schools have been permitted to organize in-person practical activities and a decentralized approach has been taken to decision-making, allowing school and municipalities to decide together on the type of learning model they implement. Our demand to reopen student dormitories at half capacity has also been accepted,” union representatives told reporters.