High school students from schools across the country are complaining that principals and professors at educational institutions tried to prevent them from gathering to honor those who died in the fire at the Pulse disco in Kocani, where 59 people died and over 150 were injured.

To the editorial office of Free Press A series of messages have arrived from students complaining about pressure from the principal of the secondary medical school in Prilep, "Gjorce Petrov".

The message we received from a student at the "Gjorche Petrov" secondary medical school states that the school principal pressured the students not to attend the gatherings and threatened that if anyone did not respect her word, they would be sanctioned.

"The principal gathered the class presidents and told them what we had asked to go for, we didn't know who had organized it, candles were lit in church, not where we would have thought, and that if we left the classes there would be unjustified sanctions, no graduation, reduced behavior, etc.

Free Press contacted the principal of the "Gjorce Petrov" Secondary School, Janeta Videvska who denied the allegations, saying that this was another attack on her that she had been subjected to in recent months.

"I deny that there was pressure. This is another attack on me that I have been subjected to in recent months. Because in Prilep, two gatherings were announced to pay tribute to those who died in the fire in Kocani. One gathering was scheduled for 12:18, the other starting at 18:12 on the city square. I gathered the class presidents and suggested that the students who are on the first shift at school go to the gathering at XNUMX:XNUMX and the students who are on the second shift go to the gathering at XNUMX:XNUMX, so that they do not miss classes. The students previously asked me to postpone all interrogations, written and knowledge tests, and I, as the principal, accepted their request, and asked the teachers to do so," said Videvska.

The Prilep high school "Mirce Acev" is also complaining about the pressures. Although we asked for the principal, Vesna Mihailovska, we still did not receive an answer to our questions.

Students at the Resen "Tsar Samuil" high school are also complaining about pressure. They say they received threats from the school's principal, even though she was temporarily in that position, that is, acting.

"When the students approached her with kindness to organize a peaceful protest march, calling for love and compassion, the principal did not accept their first proposal when they asked to be released after the fourth period. No way. The second attempt was: okay, since you are no longer letting us miss classes, we will organize the rally after classes. To this, the principal said - NO. And at the same time, she forbade them from organizing anything after school hours at all, with direct threats against our children, that she would act very rigorously against them. These children are already traumatized by this woman, so many of them got scared and gave up, and she yelled at some of the children," it says in a post shared on social networks.

High school students face the same pressures. "Kocho Racin" in Sveti Nikole. One of the teachers at the school, with a smile on his face, addressed the students who wanted to go to the town square with the words: "Are you going to go on Easter?" Another teacher told the students that there was no point in going to the square, and a third teacher blamed the tragedy on the young people, asking them: "Do you see what happens when minors go?"

Meanwhile, students from Shtip are complaining that a music professor tore down the banners they had been preparing all day for the victims in Kocani. A resident of Shtip claims for Sloboden Pechat that “the professor told them that the situation should not be politicized, and he himself had a political goal.” After the incident, the students headed to the “Slavcho Stojmenski” high school in Shtip with the torn banners, where the music professor works, and left them in front of the building.

Another resident of Shtip told "Sloboden Pechat" about the same incident that while several female students were making banners, the professor approached them and told them to put the banners aside, because they were political, to which they replied that they were not, and then he told them "you won't take them away, give them to me", after which they handed him the banners, and he tore them up.

Previously, the same professor told his classes that everything they did for the victims in Kocani was "politically motivated", to which the students told him that everything they did and are doing is for their friends, not for politics, a resident of Shtip tells "Sloboden Pechat".

The High School Students' Union also spoke out today, appealing for understanding and support for the students as they are going through a difficult emotional period following the tragedy in Kocani. They also call on educational institutions to show empathy and understanding for the students and not to face sanctions or additional pressure in class.

"Many young people feel the need to express their solidarity by participating in rallies and support initiatives. In this context, we call on educational institutions to show empathy and understanding for students, without facing sanctions or additional pressure in teaching. These are moments when humanity should come first. At the same time, we express concern about the attitude towards students during this sensitive period. Instead of strict measures, dialogue, support and mutual understanding are now necessary. Protests are a last resort that no one wants, but if a reasonable approach is lacking, the reaction of students will be inevitable," the statement reads.

The High School Students' Union expects all schools and competent institutions "to contribute to creating an atmosphere of care, respect and support, in order for students to more easily cope with these extremely difficult moments."

In several cities across the country, gatherings were held last night in memory of the victims of the tragic fire at the Pulse disco in Kocani. Citizens expressed their condolences and support to the families of the dead and injured, demanding accountability from the institutions. In the meantime, the investigation into the accident continues, with 18 people being arrested and 16 detained in connection with the case so far. The funerals of the victims are scheduled for Thursday.