Breaking teachers' backs: "They won't break us"

Teachers in primary and secondary schools who are on strike are the only state sector workers in Serbia who did not receive their February salary, or the amount was humiliatingly reduced. According to the earlier writing of "Vremena" Dušan Bojanić, a geography teacher on strike, received the first part of his February salary 2184 dinars and 87 para.

One of them is Filip Krstić, who spoke on his LinkedIn account: "As a teacher of technology and technology in an elementary school, who works at only 60 percent of the norm, I am currently in a situation where I have to support two children and my wife, who is also an educator (faculty assistant) and who is currently not receiving a salary. On top of all that, there is also a loan that must be repaid. Because of all this, I want to look for a part-time job. I live in Surdulica and I am open for any kind of work — whether it's online work or physical jobs”.

How did they cope with such repressive measures?

A teacher from Lazarevac, Olivera Ljubojević, tells "Vreme" that they manage as they arrive. "We emptied all the pockets we had, so we live on my husband's salary. Now we have all signed an agreement that we want to accept help from the IT community, so we have that kind of support," she points out.

She adds that educators are not ashamed of any honest work, and that as far as she is concerned, she will remain on strike until her demands are met. "The worst thing that can happen to me is to get fired, and if I get fired, I'll do what I know how to do. I'll look for a job somewhere else."

He explains that he does not believe that the school year will fail. However, "even if he 'fails', my son is a high school graduate, it is better for him to 'fail' one year than his life".

Repression against the interests of the school

Serbian language and literature professor Dunja Nikolić told "Vreme" that this non-payment of salary was a surprise to them.

"We did not expect that such repressive measures would be taken. It is incredible how it is possible that the state does not have an interest in the schools working and the system functioning. The demands that we stood behind are very simple, and for them unfulfillable," explains Nikolić.

He adds that no one has addressed them regarding the request, and that the only thing they get from the people who are in power is additional threats, belittling and tearing. "Like: 'You thought you could not work without receiving a salary'. This shows the depth of ignorance of civil resistance, ignorance of consistency. It's as if we won't work. We want to, but whether we start working doesn't depend on us, it depends on them," the "Vremena" interviewee points out.

And he says that with this measure some people are more affected, some less. Nevertheless, "let's not be fooled, we live on that salary, no matter how small it is. I have some basic needs, but how long I will be able to do so - I don't know. If this rebellion of education breaks, this creation of the backbone of Serbian education, we will come to a situation where the best teaching staff will leave the schools, and that is a complete breakdown," emphasizes Nikolić.

Financial aid to teachers

For two weeks of support for employees in education, Serbian citizens and companies paid 76.290.000 dinars into the dedicated account of the "Alek Kavčić" Foundation, and in 2.166 payments, educators received close to 35 million dinars, the Foundation announced.

According to the recommendation of the Forum of Belgrade Gymnasiums, employees in the education system whose salaries have been reduced by 25.000 dinars and more will be paid 18.700 dinars from the Foundation's account, and 25.000 dinars will be paid for reductions of less than 9.350.

"Around 20.000 teachers and non-teaching staff in educational institutions remained without salaries or were not paid their full salaries for February 2025. It is estimated that around 100.000.000 dinars of aid need to be collected together in order to at least partially reduce the difference in unpaid wages to educators," they wrote.

Nikolić says that it is very important for educators not to get out of this, that the responsibility for stopping education does not lie with the teachers but with the institutions, and that they have a lot of support from the Solidarity Network and that it works together with the "Alek Kavčić" Foundation to ensure that they do not feel completely isolated and alone.

"We think that even this threat to our existence will not break us," concludes Nikolić.

What next?

Ljubojević says that they have no information about what will happen with the March salary, but he is of the opinion that he will not receive it. "Meanwhile, the latest is that the Ministry sent a letter to the principals that they are obliged to ensure the normal flow of classes and to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the teaching staff who are on suspension.

"I sent a public letter to my colleagues. I remain suspended until further notice and I don't expect others to do the same, but it would be nice if now the colleagues who did not come close to that one-third of the unrealized hours replace the colleagues who have to start working," indicates Ljubojević.

She adds that she received the support of her colleagues for this letter, and that they are already making arrangements with them at the school to implement it. "For example, one colleague who was suspended for two weeks until now and did not come close to that one-third of the unrealized classes, has now again entered a one-week suspension. I hope there will be a greater response," concludes Ljubojević.