In the Assembly, the MPs finished the discussion on the amendments to the Law on Higher Education and Professional Training of Persons with Higher Education, which provide for increases in student scholarships, loans, fees for professional training...
Deputies will vote on changes to these regulations later in the parliamentary plenum.
Amendments to the Law on Vocational Training of Persons with Higher Education increase their remuneration from 450 to 600 euros.
DON'T MISS IT
Minister of Education Anđela Jakšić Stojanović clarified that these measures increase student scholarships from 225 to 300 euros, student loans from 150 to 214 euros, but also compensation for co-financing master's studies from 500 to 750 euros, that is, for doctoral studies from 1.000 to 1.500 euros. ..
"Combined with the increase of fees for professional training from 450 to 600 euros, the minimum wage for high school students to 600 and university students to 800, we believe that we have created a much more favorable environment for young people to stay here to work," she stated.
They will ask for fees of 800 euros
Member of Parliament of the Citizens' Movement URA Ana Novaković Đurović stated that they acted as amendments to these laws and that it is extremely important to create better conditions for young people. She pointed out that it is not clear to her why the changes to the regulations on professional training foresee 600 euros for university students instead of 800 euros, and that this is exactly what they are asking for with the amendments.
"It is about equalizing the minimum wage for the young people who will enter this program. I hope that the amendment will be accepted. We think that the only fair and logical thing is to increase the amount from 450 to 800 euros, and not to 600 euros as proposed by the Government ", she stated and added that young people are not sufficiently involved in decision-making processes.
Bosniak Party Member of Parliament Kenana Strujić Harbić asked where 30.000 university graduates ended up after vocational training, that is, whether they remained in those workplaces with employers and what they could have learned in nine months.
"But is this a solution to the problem? I don't think so, because the program proved to be non-transparent, because it showed that it is not in the interest of employers to train a good and high-quality worker and leave that same worker in their company or in the state after nine months. institution", she pointed out and stated that the laws are not the problem of Montenegro, but the lack of staff in the education system, specifically psychologists and pedagogues.
Social Democrats (SD) MP Boris Mugoša added that the Government proposes that a university student working in a professional training program should have 600 euros, and that a person working in the same workplace should have 800 euros.
"It is not possible for a high school student to have a minimum wage, and another in the same workplace, a lower wage than the minimum wage. I know that the financial effects will be great. That is why I ask you to accept my amendment, which is similar to that of my colleague Novaković Đurović. Minimum wage is related to vocational training, so these corrections must be made. The program has many flaws and we have to reform the program," Mugoša said.
Independent Member of Parliament Jevrosima Pejović pointed out that the professional training program was ready for reform from the moment it was adopted, and that employers are still abusing it.
Jakšić Stojanović emphasized that 50.226 people have completed the professional training program so far and that there were certain problems in the implementation of this program. She explained that according to their data, more than 50 percent of the participants of the program found employment with employers, either at the place where they did the training or outside.
She emphasized that the compensation for the position and the professional training program are different things, and that is why they cannot be at the same level.
"I think we need to strengthen the control segment, and it has been identified as the weakest part of the program. There are shortcomings, but we will try to make some contribution in the coming period," she stated and emphasized that young people are present in the decision-making process, but that this sector also should be improved.
She stated that they plan to do this through the Youth Guarantee program from 2025, through three pilot projects in the north, center and south of the country, in order to involve young people in the decision-making process.
The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) pointed out that the motive for the hasty adoption of such measures is the local elections in Kotor and Gusinje, but also that the public debate on these issues is often bypassed. Member of Parliament Zoja Bojanić Lalović pointed out that this increase means, but is not motivation for students.
Lack of students, we have the white plague
MP of the Europe Now Movement (PES) Uglješa Urošević said that today the consequences of earlier policies are being felt, and that it is important to provide everything to young people immediately, so that the same thing does not happen again.
"If we all don't do something so that young people stay in the country, it's all for naught and the country has no perspective. In all study courses in two enrollment periods, you have half of the maximum number of students enrolled. There are no students and pupils in Montenegro, we have the white plague and negative selection. What we can do is to provide a decent life for those who want to stay in Montenegro," he said, adding that the value system must return to the period before the 1990s, that is, to preserve the best.
The Democrats Parliamentary Club pointed out that these are important legal solutions and that they cover almost all categories of the population. They have announced that they will support these solutions.
The Democratic People's Party (DNP) emphasized that the system of supervision of professional training should be improved, in order to check the effects of the program and get the most out of it. The New Serbian Democracy (NSD) said that these steps will not do miracles, but that the message is that the status of students is improving, that things are changing, that they should not leave Montenegro and focus on education.
Bonus video:
