Municipal Councilors discussed the forthcoming school year

Under the Swiss Embassy’s “Empowering Municipal Councils” project in North Macedonia, implemented by UNDP, a thematic working group meeting on public affairs was organized to discuss the challenges imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic related to the functioning of the local public affairs with special emphasizes on education. The virtual meeting initiated by UNDP and ZELS  gathered 22 participants (Municipal Council Presidents and members and Heads of Public Affairs Departments from 11  municipalities) to discuss the challenges in the organization of the forthcoming school year, as well as to discuss how to strengthen the role of Municipal Councils in all Public Affairs areas.

As a result of this discussion the following conclusions and recommendations were drawn:

– There is a need of greater involvement of the LSGU representatives in the consultative processes of the central government, as well as in the decision-making on issues related to the start of the new school year;

– The Ministry of education should prepare more scenarios for initiation of the new school year out of which each municipality will select the most appropriate scenario for them;

– In cooperation with the donor community in the country, the central government should support municipalities and schools in ensuring necessary preconditions for conduction of the online classes (laptops, internet connection, etc.);

– Additional funds should be allocated to the municipalities for conduction of the educational process as respecting present protocols for protection from COVID-19 generates new and higher costs for municipalities;

– The Ministry of education should facilitate the procedures for engaging new staff in deficient areas and facilitate staff mobility between schools;

– There is a need for changing of the formula for calculation of the block grants intended for municipalities in area of education. The current formula should be changed, and calculations should be made based on the number of students in the municipality/school.

Thematic working group on public affairs is part of the seven thematic groups of municipal councilors formed within the project “Empowering Municipal Councils”.