Independent trade union educational workers of Serbia (NSPRS) announced a complete suspension of work for Monday, January 20, with a protest gathering of educators at 11 a.m. on the Plateau near the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, which will provide support to students who block colleges.
It was stated that the NSPRS made such a decision considering the entire situation "from the insults and threats sent to teachers by the highest state officials, through the sudden interruption of the first semester by the decision of the Government of Serbia and the humiliating offer of a future salary increase in the education system, to the lack of readiness of the competent authorities to solve the accumulated problems in education, such as compromised security, plagiarism of scientific works and partisan management of institutions".
"Educators want to show dignity, determination and courage to stand up to the authorities who offer them daily gifts while at the same time embezzling and humiliating them," NSPRS announced.
More important changes from the second half of the year
That union pointed out that from the beginning of the second half of the year, "it is far more important that comprehensive changes begin in Serbia."
It was emphasized that educators "want to unequivocally stay with students in the fight for the establishment of the rule of law and suppression of systemic corruption."
The government claims to have fulfilled the requirements
However, the Ministry of Education announced on Monday that the Government, after a meeting with representatives of representative trade unions, which does not include NSPRS, has agreed to fulfill the demands of educators.
It was also stated that the Ministry of Education will immediately send a letter to school principals regarding the holding of class and teacher councils after January 20, which implies that the second semester will still begin on January 20.
The government accepted the request to define in articles 18 and 19 of the Special Collective Agreement (SCA) for employees in primary and secondary schools and student dormitories the adjustment of wages to the average wages in Serbia in accordance with the letter of the representative unions dated January 10, 2025 .
The government accepted to increase the coefficient by five percent and increase the amount of salary for March 2025 and by five percent the amount of salary for October 2025 for all employees with the 7th degree and for teachers, teachers and educators with 6, 5, 4. and 3rd degree.
The Ministry of Education announced that it will maximally intensify the negotiations regarding the remaining members of the PKU in order to end the negotiations as soon as possible.
The request to come to a solution for combining the norms of employees who work in several schools through the definition of Article 5 of the PKU was accepted.
Holding class and teacher councils after January 20
The Ministry of Education will immediately send a letter to school principals regarding the holding of class and teacher councils after January 20, 2025.
It was stated that in the course of 2025, the Ministry of Education will enable the reduction of administration through EsDnevnik. The application of the Zdravitas platform will be fully reviewed with the aim of using the electronic diary for all physical and health education teaching needs in accordance with the teaching and learning plan and program. Together with the trade unions, an analysis of existing regulations, legal solutions and teaching and learning plans and programs will be carried out.
The request to start negotiations in 2025 to amend the Regulation on coefficients for calculation and payment of salaries of employees in public services was accepted, and to consider increasing the coefficients for occupations from the coefficient 9,65 to 17,32. Special attention will be paid to solving the problems of employees in the student standard and harmonizing the basis for calculation and payment of salaries of employees in the student standard with the student standard.
