The executive board of North Macedonia’s Union of Workers in Education called on Friday for the prompt suspension of the strike and immediate return of education staff to classrooms.

On Thursday, the Assembly overturned a government proposal to increase salaries by 12%, instead of the 18% sought initially by school staff.

The move confused both students and parents, as many teachers now refuse to go back to work without having their demands met.

The Union argued that teachers are obliged by the law to return to work.

North Macedonia has 4,500 employees in preschool education institutions, around 20,000 in elementary schools, and around 8,000 in secondary learning institutions.