Rector of the University of Belgrade Vladan Djokic he stated on protest "Knowledge is power" which was organized by students in front of the Rector's Office in Belgrade, that the force and the lack of authority should be answered with the force of education.
"History has shown that no government, like the current one, has treated members of the academic community in such a vindictive, vengeful and malicious manner because the academic community did not agree to remain silent," Djokic said.
He pointed out that we are witnessing that the regime "with its malice and depravity is hitting the two most valuable categories of the population - the youngest and the most educated."
"It hits the University, on truthful people. They are bothered by the youngest and most educated, because they don't want to keep quiet, because they want to stay in this country and live a normal life," Djokic said.
He added that every day the academic community faces new models of pressure on the autonomy of universities, and that those who have political leverage do not shy away from anything and exert physical, financial, media and administrative pressure in different ways.
"Physical pressure - such as the intrusion of the police and gendarmerie into the campus of the University of Novi Sad and excessive use of force. Attempted intrusion of the police into the Faculty of Law in Belgrade. Arrest and beating of students and professors in front of the faculty buildings. Financial pressure - Regulation limiting the scientific and research work of professors at the university. SPIRI system, which abolishes the financial independence of higher education institutions. Impossibility of realizing inter-level projects due to the ban on opening new sub-accounts. Media pressure - targeting of students and professors by pro-government media and the highest representatives of the government. Administrative pressures - misdemeanor and criminal charges against all deans and rectors in Serbia," he explained.
Đokić also pointed out that they are responding to the force and apathy of this regime with all the force of education.
"That force connects us and encourages the entire society to strive for higher achievements in all areas. A strong and successful society without a strong education and an education system that protects not the privileged like today, but all citizens and develops adequate mechanisms to help the most vulnerable," he said, adding that investing in higher education is a key investment for the economic and social development of any community.
He is of the opinion that change is necessary at every level of education and the overall education system, both in terms of form and content.
"I want to encourage the members of the academic community to engage collegially and actively in the defense of university autonomy, to stand up for academic freedom without reservation and to resist pressure and preserve the dignity of our profession and our vocation by personal example. I call on the competent institutions to ensure the university's autonomy guaranteed by law, so that the heritage of civilization, the constitution and human rights are not violated in the public and media space. Finally, I say to the current and every future government - There is no malice, there is power in knowledge!", concluded Vladan Đokić, Rector of Belgrade University.
