Not even the second day of the second semester in many primary and secondary schools to the schools did not start normally - with the school bell and classes.
Instead of in the classrooms, the students gathered in front of the schools, in support of the teachers, because of the announcements that the educational inspection will come to the schools.
Minister enlighten Slavica Đukić Dejanović announced that the educational inspection will visit schools throughout Serbia, and the inspectors were welcomed in front of many schools by students and their parents.
Such a picture was on Tuesday morning in front of the Tenth and Third High School in Belgrade, in front of the Jovan Dučić elementary school in Belgrade, but also in front of the Mileva Marić Einštajn Technical School in Novi Sad, and in front of the Electrical Engineering School in that city.
These are just some of the many schools where teachers have suspended classes.
It is difficult to determine how many schools in Serbia started the second semester on Monday (January 20), because the data published by trade unions and the Ministry of Education differ quite a bit.
According to the data of the Independent Union of Educational Workers of Serbia, more than 50 percent of schools in the country have suspended work. The forum of Belgrade high schools announced that there were no classes in 90 percent of high schools in Belgrade.
The Prime Minister of Serbia, Miloš Vučević, on the other hand, stated that in more than 80 percent of schools, classes were held normally on Monday.
Classes are held on the second day of the second semester in more than 96 percent of a total of 1.773 primary and secondary schools in Serbia, the Ministry of Education announced today.
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, spoke from the Swiss city of Davos, where he is participating in the World Economic Forum, and assessed that the strike in primary and secondary schools "did not succeed", and announced the implementation of measures against the strikers.
"They know that everything they are doing is illegal." If you know what you are doing is illegal, then be prepared for the consequences. And they are coming. And then a nice hand in hand with Marinika Tepić," Vučić said in an address to journalists.
He said that it was a "shame" that 98 schools were suspended while classes were shortened in about 200 schools.
"But that you blackmail children and that they cannot study because you have political aspirations, that is so sick," said Vučić.
Which schools are closed?
On Tuesday (January 21), the eighth Belgrade high school entered a general blockade of classes, Aleksandar Markov, a teacher at that school, told "Vreme".
Most high schools in Belgrade have suspended classes.
According to the interlocutor of "Vremen", classes were held on Tuesday in two of the 21 gymnasiums.
"The Ninth and Twelfth are not in suspension today, but that doesn't mean they won't vote for it in the coming days." "A number of high schools immediately voted for a general suspension of work, and the high school where I work voted for it today," says Markov.
"Today, Tuesday, is the key moment when the colleagues who have been on strike for two days should declare whether they are going on a general strike. I assume that today everyone will decide on a term that is not limited", says Markov, who is also a representative of the Forum of Belgrade High Schools.
Elementary schools on strike too
Classes have also been suspended in some primary schools in the capital.
The teachers of the Belgrade Primary School "Vladislav Ribnikar" informed the students and their parents that they will not hold classes until the end of the week.
"At the teachers' meeting, held on January 20, by the majority of those present, it was decided that the teachers will stop working in the period from January 21 to 24." This decision is not in accordance with the existing laws and we are aware of the consequences it carries with it," reads the notification received by the parents.
There were no classes at the "Jovan Dučić" elementary school in New Belgrade, which was visited by the inspection.
In Novi Sad, 76 percent of secondary schools are on strike
The bell did not ring today in numerous primary and secondary schools in Novi Sad and the surrounding area.
According to data from educational workers, 59 percent of elementary and 76 percent of state secondary schools announced the suspension of work in Novi Sad on Monday.
Among the schools where there were no classes are Elementary School "Đorđe Natošević", Elementary School "Dušan Radović", Karlovačka Gymnasium, "Prva Vojvodina Brigade", School of Economics, Gymnasium "Laza Kostić", Art School "Bogdan Šuput", ETŠ "Mihajlo Pupin". , Gymnasium "Jovan Jovanović Zmaj", Medical School "7. April", Gymnasium "Svetozar Marković", Secondary Mechanical School, Primary School "22. August" in Bukovac, Elementary School "Sonja Marinković", Elementary School "Dositej Obradović".
An inspection came to the "Mileva Marić Einstein" Technical School in Novi Sad on Tuesday morning, but the students did not allow the inspectors to enter the facility.
On Monday (January 20), teachers at that school voted to suspend work indefinitely.
In several elementary schools in Novi Sad, gatherings of parents' support for educators have been held since this morning, and the children are not in the classrooms.
In the elementary school "Jovan Jovanović Zmaj" in Sremska Kamenica, the principal locked himself in and does not allow teachers to enter the assembly hall.
At the "Svetozar Marković Toza" Elementary School, where yesterday the parents entered the principal's office, after which the police were called, there was a gathering again today.
At the elementary school "Vasa Stajić" at a gathering of support for teachers, one of the parents, Darko Šper, told those gathered that they should be there for each other and not be ashamed of their actions.
Parents also gathered at "Đuro Daničić", "Branko Radičević" and "Prva Vojvodina brigade" primary schools, reports Beta.
Across Serbia, fewer schools are under blockade
Most of the schools in Kraljevo decided to suspend classes until the union's demands were met, and the inspection did not even appear yesterday, although there were announcements that they would visit five elementary schools in that city.
Six high schools in that city suspended their work, reports N1.
Vladimir Adžić, a member of the strike committee of the Čačak Education Union (SOČ), told FoNet today that 16 schools in Čačak are in complete suspension of work, while seven schools are partially suspended, and two smaller rural ones are working.
The First Kragujevac High School, the Second High School, the Vocational High School and the School of Economics are completely blocked.
Classes have also been suspended in several elementary schools in Kragujevac.
There are no classes in three of the four high schools in Nis, as well as in the Aleksinac high school.
The suspension of classes is also ongoing in the Požarevac high school.
Several primary and secondary schools in Užice are also on strike, and a group of employees sent an open letter to the principals of the schools and the School Administration, in which they stated that they have suspended work because "they cannot verbally advocate for justice, honesty, truth and responsibility, and to practice hypocrisy, irresponsibility and disinterest".
The employees stated in an open letter that "as honorable and responsible professionals, they could not lie to their students."
"We don't expect you to join us (although we would love to) but we ask you to let us fight our battles because they are yours too." And within your value system there is solidarity, responsibility and fairness, they must be stronger than bureaucratic norms. Like everything else, this too shall pass. It is important that after everything we can look each other in the eye and continue to do the same work," reads the letter from the employees of Užice primary and secondary schools.
Source: Beta/N1/Fonet/Danas
