President of the National Assembly Ana Brnabic she said that the talks were completed last week between representatives of all state universities in Serbia and members of the expert working group formed by the expanded Rector's College of the University of Belgrade, and a final agreement was reached when it comes to Amendments to the Law on Higher Education, in order to fulfill the fourth student demand - an increase in the budget for higher education by 20 percent, which is about 12 billion dinars.
She added that all universities agreed that the final deal was what they wanted.
According to her, with the proposed changes, the cost of tuition for students is reduced by 50 percent, "as they requested, the only difference is how it will be fulfilled - and it will be through a direct refund from the budget."
The second change, she said, concerns the allocation of additional funds for higher education, which will fully cover the fixed costs of higher education institutions, as well as the salaries of employees defined by the collective agreement, also in full.
"And the third, most important, provision for the public of the Republic of Serbia, which is that there will be a harmonization of salary bases in higher education with salary bases in primary and secondary education, which will mean that additional funds will be provided from the budget of the Republic of Serbia to increase salaries in higher education by as much as 16 percent, to be precise 15,97 percent." Therefore, in addition to the fact that the state will directly reimburse students 50 percent of their tuition fees, the state will also provide additional funds to increase salaries," said Brnabić at a press conference in the Serbian Parliament.
She pointed out that "all this is significantly more allocation than 12 billion dinars".
Session on Tuesday, March 4th
She stated that she expects the government to adopt these amendments tomorrow or the day after tomorrow and to then send it to the assembly for further consideration. After that, she added, this bill will be considered by the relevant committees of the assembly.
"Our goal is for the Proposal to amend the Law on Higher Education to be on the agenda at the first session of the regular session of the assembly," she stated, adding that it will most likely be held on Tuesday, March 4.
According to her, the University of Belgrade sent a letter to the government in which "the expanded rectors' collegium states that the received text of the proposed amendments to the law on higher education is essentially in accordance with the principles defined by the aforementioned conclusion and our draft amendments to the law".
"With such a solution, which, and this is perhaps the most important part, which, in addition to meeting the demands of students in the blockade, also concerns the multi-year demands of the University of Belgrade, an important step forward has been made in terms of improving the institutional framework for the functioning and development of higher education in Serbia. This is from the announcement of the University of Belgrade. The University of the Arts in Belgrade, among other things, also stated in its letter, recognizing the fact that key issues for the improvement of higher education in the Republic of Serbia have been discussed for a long time and through the work of a working group of different composition, especially in the part related to financial aspects, the members of both collegiums of the University of the Arts in Belgrade agree with the proposed amendments to the law on higher education," said Brnabić, adding that all universities in Serbia explicitly confirmed that the fourth student request was fulfilled.
"Academic year seriously called into question"
She pointed out that the academic year is seriously called into question, "considering that we are approaching the deadline when it is not even physically possible to make up for classes and exams, even though it would be done every Saturday, and every week, and throughout the summer, until September 30, when the academic year must end, so that the next academic year can begin."
"So, I am asking all universities, all faculties, all students in the blockade to think carefully about the fact that after the adoption of these and similar amendments to the law on higher education, even if they go beyond the demands of the students in the blockade, but also the demands of the academic community, to return to classes and save this academic year, so as not to call into question over 230.000 families who have their students at state universities in Belgrade, regardless of whether they are that budget students or self-financing students. "Some of them, if the blockades continue, will miss unique life chances to continue their education and continue to improve in their best interest," said Brnabić.
Source: H1
