- Cause of rally of the Serbian Progressive Party in Novi Sad today, October 16, several schools shortened classes or canceled classes in the second shift, 021.rs learns.
- The "Josip Slavenski" music school canceled afternoon classes, the "Branko Radičević" elementary school shortened its classes, and Gymnasium "Jovan Jovanović Zmaj".
- The "Svetozar Marković" gymnasium is working normally, and the "Đorđe Natošević" elementary school did not want to "comment on its working hours" for the media.
- Traffic in the center is blocked, and the police announce a gathering at Trg slobode from 15 p.m.
What's happening
The music school "Josip Slavenski" canceled classes in the afternoon shift because a large number of students come through crowded parts of the city. "Branko Radičević" elementary school has shortened classes so that students avoid "events in the city center". The "Jovan Jovanović Zmaj" gymnasium shortened its classes, as the parents announced, in order to end the school day before the gathering of supporters of the "Aleksandar Vučić - United Serbia" list.
According to Autonomy's unofficial information, classes have also been shortened at the "Isidora Sekulić" Gymnasium. In the "Svetozar Marković" Gymnasium, which is also in the center, it was said that classes will continue as normal, and in the "Đorđe Natošević" Elementary School, when asked about classes, they answered that they had no comment.
In a statement, the parents of Jova High School ironically assessed that the principal Radivoje P. Stojković "excellently assessed" that the safety of the students during the rally was threatened, reminded that he had previously stayed in "Ćaciland" and at a meeting organized by Informer, and expressed the hope that "he will resign as early as tomorrow". The Novi Sad Police Department announced that citizens are expected to gather at Freedom Square from 15 p.m. and that they will take legal measures for security, including photo and video recording on the territory of the city.
Background of the story
As of this morning, according to 021.rs, traffic in the center of Novi Sad has been blocked due to the rally, and SNS supporters are setting up tents and pulling tractors, which caused a traffic collapse. Jova's high school only returned to its main building on October 12 after more than a year, and the school is also in a dispute over the suspension and dismissal of professors.
Viber group KarlovciTractors in Novi Sad, October 15 in the evening
Why is this important?
For parents and students, it's a practical issue: shortened classes change homecoming schedules and family responsibilities. For schools, it is a decision about the safety of students on a day when the streets are closed, and the parents of Jovina Gymnasium read it as a political message. For the public, on the eve of the elections, this raises the question of the extent to which pre-election activities affect the work of public institutions. There is also the question of whether shortening the hours before the pre-election rally of the ruling party means that the event is risky for the safety of children.
The rally is scheduled for today, and schools should be open tomorrow according to the regular schedule. In the sources I used, the director of Jova's high school did not comment on the parent's announcement.
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