Skopje’s Centar municipality mayor Sasa Bogdanovik denied reports that he plans to allow private schools to operate in the newly built Kiro Gligorov elementary school.

The modern building is the first new school built in Skopje’s central area since the 1969 earthquake and Government officials were quick to boast with its completion.

The elementary school will operate under the program drawn up by the Education Ministry, and there are no plans to allow private schools in it, Bogdanovik said.

He also denied reports that the opening of the school, in time for the start of the new school year, was rushed and was ordered before all work and inspections were completed.