The students of a class of the Fifth Belgrade High School found themselves under pressure after they expressed their dissatisfaction with the new mathematics teacher. The case caused reactions from the professional public, parents and the Protector of Citizens, who is now examining the actions of the school administration
One department Fifth Belgrade Gymnasium has been the focus of interest in recent days, after the students showed what they thought about the new math teacher. This led to additional pressure from the management of this high school on students and their parents.
Protector of Citizens because of the events in Petja, he initiated proceedings due to several complaints about the treatment acting director Danke Nešović Fifth Belgrade High School.
Apart from the fact that students of II/11 were collectively reduced their marks in governance, some students were threatened with expulsion from their dormitories, social service and prosecution, and on Thursday (October 9) they did the control task in mathematics not only in the presence of the teacher, but also in the classroom were employees of the pedagogical-psychological service.
Professor Faculty of Philosophy from the Department of Pedagogy Vera Spasenović says that the students of class II/11 showed that they oppose injustice by showing initiative and confirming that they care about living in a democratic and just society.
"Students have the right to freely express their opinion on all issues that concern them, and this also means the life and work of the school. The school, on the other hand, must enable students to exercise this right and should not deny it to them," says Spasenović.
He reminds that the Law on the Basics of the System education and education stipulates as the expected outcome of education the ability of students to effectively and constructively participate in all forms of work and social life, to respect human rights and freedoms, to communicate assertively and non-violently, especially in the growing diversity of society and in conflict resolution.
According to domestic and international documents, it is necessary for both students and parents to participate in making decisions on issues related to the life and work of the school, he adds.
"However, in the Fifth Belgrade High School, the school management did not understand and respect the perspective of the students and their parents, nor did they give them the opportunity to express their opinion when making decisions."
The school, he adds, should be a community based on mutual respect, cooperation, a sense of belonging and built trust.
"Her role is not only to provide the students with appropriate knowledge, but also to develop an appropriate system of values and norms of behavior among them, which include togetherness, empathy, solidarity and the like. I think that with their act, the students of II/11 have just shown that they have adopted these values and are living them. They chose not to be silent," says Spasenović.
The fifth high school welcomed the beginning of the new school year with numerous dismissals of teachers who were employed under a fixed-term contract, the acting principal forbade parents from entering the school, and the Parents' Council has not been formed to date.
The parents of the students of class II/11 filed a report of violence against the pedagogic-psychological service, and the lawyer filed a criminal report on behalf of the parents for threatening the children because of their behavior in math class. In mid-September, they left a 50-euro illustration, the "Informer" newspaper and a sandwich to the mathematics teacher at the department, after he declared himself a progressive and said that their previous class got what she asked for.
They turned to the Republic Inspectorate, the Ministry of Education, the school administration and the Protector of Citizens, asking for information about the competences of mathematics professors. They also sought information of public importance on the competencies of new professors.
Protector of Citizens initiated an investigative procedure on the legality and regularity of the work Ministry of Education, and because of the large number of complaints that came to the address of the ombudsman on the work of the Fifth Belgrade High School and the acting director of that school.
"The Ombudsman has received several complaints about the actions of the Acting Director of the Fifth Belgrade High School, Danka Nešović, due to a series of unexpected and unilateral changes that she has implemented since the beginning of the 2025/2026 school year, both changes in the curriculum and mass and sudden changes in class management and teaching staff, suspension of professional associates and other personal changes of employees," according to the explanation of the Ombudsman, which "Vreme" had an insight.
Complaints were filed by parents of students who attend this school.
The applicants stated, among other things, that the acting director took "unfounded and drastic" measures against more than one third of the teachers of this school, in non-transparent procedures and decisions.
The Protector of Citizens, Zoran Pašalić, told FoNet that in the complaints of the parents of students of the Fifth Belgrade High School, the organization of classes was an essential issue and that in relation to that, answers and information were requested from the Ministry of Education.
"When we receive answers to the questions, we will see if they have answered what we are interested in. If not, then we will find out what interests us and take a position in relation to it and make certain recommendations, that is the procedure," the ombudsman said in a statement to FoNet.
He added that he has no reason not to believe his parents in what he heard, and that he has no reason not to believe the Ministry.
"I will see what needs to be done," said Pasalić.
Vera Spasenović says that the Fifth Belgrade High School did not respect what it was obliged to do.
"She didn't consult the parents, she didn't ask the students, she didn't really give them an opportunity to express their opinion. She denied them the opportunity to express their opinion and the opportunity to exercise their right to free expression."
Numerous pressures carried out in this and other schools show the general principle of the current government.
"The general principle by which this government operates is pressure, blackmail, intimidation. And this is just another indicator of how they operate. They try to silence and intimidate both teachers and children and their parents. In this case, the children showed courage. They did not agree to remain silent, so I think that they should actually be our role models for showing resistance and fighting for their own and other people's rights," says Spasenović.
Many people saw the suspension of classes and protests in the second semester of the last school year as a good opportunity for synergy within schools.
Nevena Vučković Šahović from the Center for Children's Rights she previously told "Vreme" that the basic goals of education are the development of the child in a democratic society, and for non-violent conflict resolution.
"On the example of the Fifth Belgrade Gymnasium, we see the ugly way in which it is conducted and shows great incompetence and the inability to resolve any conflict in a normal way and to establish cooperation in the triangle of parent, teacher and student. Without that cooperation, there is no progress. And that is exactly what this whole story seemed to give birth to last year. They (school management) do not want such cooperation now."
He comments on the latest events in Peta as an attempt to break the will and resistance of students and parents.
The new school year in many Belgrade schools started with big problems, but in the Fifth Belgrade High School they feel particularly strong. Nineteen teachers were fired just before the start of the school year, and those who remained in their jobs claim that they face daily pressures.
How is it previously explained for "Vreme". one teacher is employed in this school, the staff suffers from various pressures, and a particular problem is the lack of teachers for key subjects, such as mathematics.
"Young people, capable pedagogues, experts in their fields, were fired, and people with dubious professional pasts were brought in, without adequate competences and experience in working with students. Disciplinary proceedings were previously conducted against some of them due to national discrimination of students. One of the colleagues does not even have the necessary qualifications," said the "Vremena" interviewee at the time.
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