“The Serbian public is following with great expectations and even more worry what is going on in the education system because this is a system that focuses on children and youth and is key in securing prosperity, stability and improvement in society. For years now we have witnessed the neglect of education as a foundation of social value. This has lead to the collapse of the quality of education and lack of trust in the educational system. The events of May 3^rd represent a red alarm for the educational system. That alarm also went off on June 6^th when the school year was cut short with no explanation and no thought given to the consequences. It’s still an open question of how exactly the approaching school year will start and how it will play out”. The Autonomous Women’s Center has signed an Open Letter with requests to the government and Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia.

We expect the new Minister of Education to come out with clear policies, and invest resources into increasing the quality of education, and the standards of professionals in the field, as well as the reputation education has as a vital part of social systems. This demands the involvement of everyone and enormous human potential which our education system does have, all in the goal of benefiting youth in education. The Minister of Education should not be the only one but rather one of many who bear responsibility for decision making and working in the best interest of education in Serbia.

We request that the government and Ministry of Education answer the following questions to the public without delay:

1. What steps have been taken to ensure that the school year begins and proceeds safely?
2. How will they create conditions where all interested parties (from students to local communities) can take part, engage and cooperate?
3. What new steps have been taken to use the great potential and knowledge in the education system in the most efficient manner, and which have been neglected for too long?

The announcement that everything will proceed as usual from September 1^st, same as all previous years, is neither serious nor responsible.

It’s high time to stop with the practice of managing via memos and administrative measures, which make teachers into executors of orders and nothing more, and students into passive observers. The education system needs new policies aimed at increasing quality of programs, staff, organizations, effects and connections with institutions/businesses where knowledge will be implemented.

We ask that you inform the public as soon as possible about what you intend to do to ensure teachers and educational employees are afforded a dignified position and increased quality of work, and parents are liberated from worrying about the safety and wellbeing of their children in schools.

The Open Letter, signed by unions, citizens’ associations and members of the academic community, can be read HERE (in Serbian).