The elementary school "20. Oktobar" in New Belgrade does not have drinking water, and some classes do not have Serbian and mathematics classes for days due to a lack of teachers. The chaos was caused by the arrival of the new director - who is a cadre of the Serbian Progressive Party
Belgrade's largest elementary school, "20 October" in New Belgrade, fell into the hands of the new principal, Gordana Radojević, who began to implement "radical progressive decisions", according to "Vremena" sources.
The previous director of the school, who came to this position from a teaching position, resigned during the summer under pressure from the authorities. as well as a large number of his colleagues throughout Serbia. This is a school where classes were suspended for a long time protests of educators in the first half of 2025, and the teachers had great support from parents who stood up for their rights and those of the students. Support gatherings were also organized several times.
They don't have Serbian or math.
That's why the authorities sent their proven personnel to the school, the headmistress from another Novi Beograd school, "Marko Orešković". In less than two months there was complete chaos, and now a competition has been officially announced to keep the new staff permanently at the school.
First, the school year started without a sufficient number of teachers. Numerous colleagues who were engaged for a certain period of time, and participated in the protests of educators, were fired.
"That's why some classes don't have classes in subjects such as Serbian language, mathematics and physics for weeks," says the organization "Joint Action 70 and 70a", blocks from which children go to this large school.
The unprofessional and inexperienced management changed the school schedule several times a day during September, there is still no open house schedule.
"The water in the school, where 1.500 children go, is not safe to drink," the organization adds. "The new management has tried to cover it up, first with false claims that the water is safe, and then with inept statements about independent water testing. There is still no official confirmation of the water quality."
The representatives of the new administration asked the School Board to give them a "free hand" in the still non-existent school reconstruction project, which implies the complete emigration of children for an undefined period.
From the "Joint Action 70 and 70a" they say that the excursions for sixth and eighth grade students were first canceled, and then a new procurement process was started as a matter of urgency, so they suspect that there are no clean jobs.
As "Vreme" learns, in the previous school there were also suspicions of receiving a bribe by this director for organizing the excursion in cooperation with the agency "Svet travel".
A report was filed against Radojević to the educational inspectorate for the criminal offense of receiving bribes and encouraging and organizing bribery, as well as for violating regulations in the field of education during the organization of an excursion for the eighth grade in October 2024. "Vreme" was unable to determine the outcome of this application.
Pressure on striking teachers
Some parents from the "Marko Orešković" school say that they "relieved a sigh of relief when the principal left."
During the teachers' strike at the beginning of the year, Radojevć, they added, showed an extreme lack of understanding for the social moment and the teachers' protest at the school, on which she continuously put pressure.
"She liked to show force by showing up at the beginning of parent-teacher conferences and then mildly humiliating a fellow teacher," says one parent.
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