SOCIOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA
Keywords:
education, students, population displacement, migration, educational policyAbstract
Schools in the Republic of North Macedonia, irrespective of ethnic differences, face various challenges, including issues related to educational quality, pro-European reform efforts, low student performance, and a lack of effective strategies to enhance and strengthen educational values. Additionally, they are confronted with a concerning phenomenon: the decline in student numbers. This issue has deepened in recent years and intertwines with a range of other problems, such as population aging, depopulation of settlements, and a lack of employment opportunities.
From a sociological perspective, the processes influencing the decline in student numbers can primarily be traced to demographic trends, falling birth rates, economic crises, geographical migrations, and ethnically discriminatory policies in the country.
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