The Government hired Teodora Matievic, daughther of Elena Nikolova, the controversial director of the elementary school in the rural town of Caska, south of Veles. Nikolova was the target of protests over the past days, after she allowed the opening of an Albanian language class in the school, which is located in an exclusively ethnic Macedonian part of the municipality.

Local citizens feared ethnic tensions over this move, and likely fights in the school, but Nikolova insisted that the class will go ahead. Macedonians in Caska accused the Government, which is dominated by the ethnic Albanian DUI party, which controls the Education Ministry, of imposing a “busing” policy – bringing Albanian children from outside of the town to change the ethnic make-up of the school. They angrily confronted Nikolova, who requested police protection, and currently Macedonian pupils are boycotting the school.

Nikolova’s daughter was hired in the state Education Inspection office, led by Halit Feratov, official of the Alliance of Albanians – a party that is being co-opted by DUI. Insiders in the office say that this is likely a form of compensation for Nikolova, for following DUI party instructions, despite the wishes of local citizens.