The debate over the bar exam in the Albanian language in North Macedonia remains open, with no final decision and contradictory signals from the government. Albanian students are demanding the right to sit the entire exam in Albanian, while the version presented by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski stops at a partial solution that does not convince them.
The government accepts only the theory part in the language of study
According to reporting by Portalb.mk, Mickoski has made it clear that the exam will not be held entirely in Albanian. Under his version, only the theoretical part may be taken in the language in which candidates completed their studies, while the practical part must be conducted in Macedonian.
The prime minister’s proposal envisages candidates being tested in Albanian, Turkish or English only for the theoretical part. The practical part, which includes the simulation of criminal and civil court procedures, remains outside this framework.
Students want full rights, not a half compromise
This approach does not meet the main demand of about 400 Albanian students, who are asking to take the bar exam 100 percent in Albanian, just as they completed their university studies.
The students’ representative, Mevlan Ademi, said they are ready to continue talks with the institutions, but are asking for clear legal arguments, accountability and concrete deadlines.
The students have stressed that they do not accept partial solutions. According to them, it still has not been convincingly explained why the exam cannot be held fully in Albanian and why candidates are not allowed at least to answer in Albanian during the practical part.
Different statements within the government add to the uncertainty
First Deputy Prime Minister Bekim Sali has said that the government is working to resolve the issue and that the decision will not be limited only to the bar exam, but will also include other professional exams.
Sali blamed the situation on the previous government and claimed that the current executive is trying to correct injustices toward students. He also said that the proposed solution is in line with the Constitution and the Law on the Use of Languages.
However, there is still no deadline for the final decision. Different signals have also come from within the government: Justice Minister Jeton Shasivari had proposed that 84 percent of the exam be conducted in Albanian, but according to the students this option was called into question by Mickoski just one day later.
Protests began months ago and the fear now is delay
The issue has been raised since November 2024 and drew more attention at the start of this year, when students from the University of Tetova, South East European University and Mother Teresa University submitted a petition to the relevant institutions.
So far, two protests have also been held, with the demand for implementation of the Law on the Use of Languages and the guarantee of the right to take the exam in Albanian.
Another concern for the students remains time. According to Ademi, even in the most optimistic scenario, implementing a solution could take more than a year. He also opposed the possibility of the issue being sent to the Venice Commission, because, according to him, this would cause further delays.
For the students, the core of the debate is not simply the technical formula of the exam, but whether the institutions will genuinely recognize the right to use Albanian in a key professional exam as well.
So far, what stands out most is the lack of a clear and unified position from the government, while the demand for concrete guarantees and deadlines remains unanswered.