The Ministry of Education and Science (MES) yesterday ensured that the official catalogue of school textbooks and the prices set therein was also delivered in physical form to all bookstores in the country.

From field monitoring, it results that the vast majority of bookstores have made the necessary preparations and adjustments of prices according to the values determined in the catalogue. For a very small number of bookstores, these preparations took longer, and in some isolated cases they were closed for service, but have since resumed sales or are expected to resume very soon.

MEST will continue to monitor the situation on the ground, in order to ensure the implementation of the catalogue and students’ access to textbooks at the set prices. For this purpose, MEST has also made available two contact numbers for parents and citizens: +383 (0) 38 200 65 144 and +383 (0) 38 200 65 005, with the aim of addressing any uncertainty or complaint regarding textbook prices. Reported cases from parents are being recorded, processed, and addressed one by one. Therefore, we invite and encourage all parents to continue reporting any discrepancies between the selling prices and those of the approved catalogue. The Education Inspectorate and the Market Inspectorate are in continuous communication and coordination to address any irregularities.

MEST highly values the cooperation of parents throughout this process and remains committed to ensuring that the supply of textbooks is carried out in a regular, transparent manner, and in the best interest of students and parents.