On this day, November 17, two years ago, students held the first student protest organized by the informal student organization, the “Student Plenum”. Students were revolted after the Ministry of Education wanted to introduce a state exam or external testing to Universities.
Exactly two years ago, several thousand students gathered in front of the University “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” and began a protest march under the slogan “United Against External Testing at Universities”.
Students carried banners inscribed with the words “External Titanic of Higher Education”, “Get Active”, and “I am more than just a number!”
With banners, such as, “No to External Testing”, “We don’t accept Parties, just those with student cards”, “No More Silence”, “SPUKM Band Under Party Command”, students from the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University marched towards Government and the Student Parliament and ended the protest march outside the Ministry of Education and Science.
After the Ministry of Education refused to listen their demands, in less than a month from the first protest, students gathered for a second student march, however, this time, the protest was on a massive scale and was not only supported by students but also by many members of the public.
On December 10, 10,000 people flooded the streets of Skopje in support of the student’s demands.
With slogans “Autonomy, Autonomy”, “We are not customers, we are students”, students told the Government and Parliament “Quick reforms, blind students are being born”.
