The Student Parliament of the University of Montenegro (SPUCG), the umbrella student representative body, which represents the interests of students at 19 university units of the University of Montenegro, announced the proposal of the law on amendments to the Law on Higher Education and the Law on Professional Training of Persons with Higher Education, which was established by the Government of Montenegro.
"Vijesti" broadcasts their announcement in full:
"The Student Parliament of UCG is continuously advocating for the drafting of a new Law on Higher Education, and in this regard it submits initiatives to the competent authorities (Government and relevant ministry) with the aim of articulating the demands of students. Furthermore, in the sphere of our interest is the Professional Training Program for persons with acquired higher education, which undoubtedly represents a program of great importance for a huge number of young people.
According to the current Law on Higher Education, Art. 109 st. 2 and 3. it is prescribed that the amount of the student loan is determined in an amount that cannot be lower than 25%, and the amount of the scholarship for the best students in an amount that cannot be lower than 50% of the minimum wage in Montenegro.
Although amendments to the Law on Higher Education were not necessary for the implementation of the mentioned program, and there was no announcement about the introduction and application of such a solution, we are rather unpleasantly surprised, and the same feeling is shared by the student population.
The newly proposed legal solution (Proposal for Amendments to the Law on Higher Education) defines that the amount of student loans and scholarships for the best students is determined by the Government, at the proposal of the Ministry, depending on the available budget funds.
Since the proposal of the Law on Amendments to the Labor Law stipulates that the minimum wage, in net amount, amounts to 600,00 euros for employees in workplaces up to the V level of education qualification, i.e. 800,00 euros for employees in workplaces with VI and with a higher level of educational qualification - it was expected that the amount of the student loan, i.e. the scholarship, would be determined as before, in a percentage amount - but taking into account the "two-level" minimum wage and that in the following way:
When it comes to student loans:
- in an amount that cannot be lower than 25% of the minimum wage, which amounts to 600,00 euros, for students of basic studies, in accordance with the highest achieved level of education qualification (V level);
- in an amount that cannot be lower than 25% of the minimum salary, which amounts to 800,00 euros, for postgraduate master's and specialist studies students, in accordance with the highest level of education qualification achieved (VI level);
When it comes to scholarships for the best students:
- in an amount that cannot be lower than 50% of the minimum wage in Montenegro, which is 600,00 euros, for students of basic studies, in accordance with the highest achieved level of education qualification (V level);
- in an amount that cannot be lower than 50% of the minimum wage in Montenegro, which amounts to 800,00 euros, for postgraduate master's and specialist studies students, in accordance with the highest achieved level of education qualification (VI level);
Additionally, the proposed legal solution worries us because it provides a large degree of freedom in determining the amount of funds allocated, that is, related to the student standard. We are of the opinion that the current solution, which takes into account the percentage amounts of the minimum wage, i.e. minimum wages, is quite good - and that this is the only way to ensure that with the growth of the minimum wage, i.e. wages, there will also be an increase in the amount of grants intended for students.
In this regard, we note that determining a fixed amount of student loans and scholarships, compared to the current legal solution, would be a step backwards, and that it would additionally, unnecessarily complicate the adjustment of the amount of these benefits and introduce additional uncertainty regarding the student standard.
There is no doubt that the amount of benefits intended for students, i.e. the rights from the student standard, must follow the growth of the minimum wage, as well as the overall socio-economic situation, i.e. the state of the country.
II
In the set of proposed amendments to the law, there is also a proposal for the Law on Amendments to the Law on Vocational Training of Persons with Higher Education.
The Student Parliament of UCG welcomes the decision of the Government of Montenegro to go in the direction of increasing the amount of compensation for users of the Professional Training Program for persons with acquired higher education. However, we would like to note that we are still of the opinion that the increase in the mentioned compensation should have been in a more significant amount, i.e. that it should have amounted to 800 euros. Previously, due to the fact that the beneficiaries of the professional training program are university graduates, i.e. persons with the acquired VI or VII-1, or VII-2 level of education qualification, and the compensation for their work should continue to follow the amount of the minimum wage provided for that level of qualification.
III
We are open for inclusion in the discussion and procedures for making all decisions related to the student population and young people in general, whose work is coordinated by the Government of Montenegro, i.e. its ministries. We consider a different approach unjustified, especially taking into account our experience in the aforementioned areas, practice and contribution to the development and improvement of the higher education system, youth employment and youth policies in general. We are sure that we can provide a lot within such procedures, and certainly that we are the only ones invited to do so on behalf of the students.
At the very end, we point out the fact that we are recognized by Article 112 of the Law on Higher Education and Article 3 of the Law on Youth as an organization that is authorized to represent and protect the rights and interests of students and implement youth policy in terms of taking measures and activities to improve the position of young people. of their personal and social development as well as inclusion in social flows," the response states.
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