Tribune Excerpts

Macedonia Plans to Upgrade Schools, Provide Computers

by Zoran Nikolovski

Skopie — The Macedonian government is making an effort to provide computer access to every primary and secondary school student in the country by supplying 150,000 computers to boost information technology skills and promote computer-based education.

The first 100,000 computers are expected to arrive this autumn and will go to secondary schools. In the meantime, the government is organizing computer-based training for teachers.

"Our goal is to enable every student to have a computer on their desk and access to all subjects taught via the computer," Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said.

Statistics suggest that there is one computer per 56 students in Macedonia's schools.

While welcoming the government's plans to improve the schools, some educators wonder about the feasibility. Schools in rural environments lack adequate desks and chairs and sometimes have to go without electricity, says one teacher in the village of Zelenikovo, near Skopie.

The government also plans to construct 200 new school buildings and 100 new gyms, to be built in collaboration with the private sector.

"Private companies will be invited to develop school facilities on concession and own them for a certain number of years. Meanwhile, local governments will pay rent," Gruevski explained.

Mayors will be asked to specify the number of schools needed in their respective areas, and will decide where the facilities should be constructed.

Gruevski's administration strongly supports compulsory education. Opposition parties say it is impossible, due to insufficient school buildings.

The government hopes its initiative to build new schools and gyms will help solve the problem, allowing it to move ahead with a compulsory system.