English
For the past week, students at the “Dimitar Vlahov” primary school in Stip have not been using mobile phones, nor have they been bringing items such as potato chips, puffed corn snacks, or artificially colored juices onto the school premises. Dejan Zdravkov, the school’s principal, states that the decision was made jointly with parents several months ago, prior to the end of the previous school year.
The decision was adopted by the Teachers’ Council, the School Board, and the Parents’ Council with the aim of fostering greater focus on lessons and cultivating healthier habits among the students. Zdravkov notes that an exception to the phone ban applies only to a small number of students who, by agreement with their parents, require a phone for their commute home. In such cases, the phones must lack internet connectivity, be turned off, and be handed over to the class teacher immediately upon arrival at school; they may be retrieved after classes end.
Zdravkov adds that the school has also implemented measures to promote healthier nutrition; fresh fruit is provided to students three times a week, and a suitable menu featuring yogurt, pastries, and other meals has been created in cooperation with local bakeries. Permitted beverages include water, milk, and homemade juices, while unhealthy snacks and artificially colored juices are strictly prohibited.