Today began the external testing of students in the third and fourth year of secondary school. Because of the strike of SONK, which lasts nearly a week, the external testing is not conducted in some schools, while it is conducted by the substitute teachers in others.
– In high schools “Zef Ljush Marku” and “Arseni Jovkov” there is a boycott by students who didn’t show up on the external testing. In Strumica, Struga, Gostivar, Tetovo and Kumanovo, external testing is not conducted today in most of the schools, despite substitute teachers. Where teachers strike, external testing is conducted by substitute teachers, but I wouldn’t like to comment on their skills and competence. We have information that, in Struga, school principals send SMS messages to the parents of students to appear on the external testing, which is a kind of pressure – said Vesna Nedelkovska, General Secretary of SONK.
She says that the general strike that began almost a week ago continues, and that it is full somewhere, partial on other places, and on third only presidents of SONK are on strike.
– The strike of SONK is fully carried out in Butel, Chair, Centar, Saraj, Tetovo, Gostivar, Kichevo, Struga, Bitola and Kumanovo. In Gazi Baba and Kisela Voda, it is carried out partially. Somewhere there are more, somewhere less, but approximately 50 percent of the teachers in these municipalities are on strike. In Veles, Prilep, Ohrid, Kochani, Shtip and Delchevo strike only presidents of SONK in the schools – says Nedelkovska.
She adds that the number of teachers who are joining the strike is increasing in general and that approximately 200 new union cards were prepared in the past few days.
The situation in Ohrid and Struga is divided. There is no strike in Ohrid, while, in neighboring Struga, nearly 70 percent of the teachers are on strike. Graduates of the four municipal secondary schools in Ohrid will be externally tested by the end of the month. Those responsible have completed all necessary preparations for a smooth conduct of the entire process.