Balić: There will be no closure of the high school in Gusinje

The President of the Municipality of Gusinje, Sanel Balić, said that the high school in Gusinje will not be closed.

He said this in response to claims by the Gusinje DPS that the Government, together with the local administration in Gusinje, made a decision not to enroll a new generation of students in the high school in Gusinje.

"The claims about 'closing down the high school' are unfounded and untrue and represent an attempt to politicize a complex issue that requires a responsible approach, not populist messages. The regional department of the 'Bećo Bašić' Secondary Mixed School in Gusinje has not been closed down, but is facing objective challenges - primarily, an insufficient number of interested students to form new departments. The regional department in Gusinje continues to operate, and classes for students in grades 2 and 4 continue to take place in Gusinje, in accordance with the school's plan and organization," said Balić.

He added that the first grade class was not formed because there were no students registered, despite the fact that the competition for enrollment was announced twice.

"This situation is not the result of a political decision, but rather a reflection of the real interests of students and parents. Contrary to the statements in the DPS statement, the school administration and the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, guided solely by the interests of students and the quality of education, have, in accordance with their responsibilities, planned a fourth-level department of the Electrical Engineer educational program for the development of web and mobile applications for the Gusinje Secondary School in the 2025st grade enrollment plan for the 26/XNUMX school year."

Balić said that unfortunately there were no interested students and therefore the first grade class was not formed.

"In response to our question regarding the return of two classes to their home school, the school administration informed us that as part of regular activities before the start of the school year, at the meeting of the Board of Directors, taking into account the fact that there were no interested parties for enrollment in the first grade at the Gusinje Primary School, part of the staff launched an initiative to consider the possibility of returning two classes from the Gusinje Primary School for this school year, in order to carry out the highest quality educational process, which the teachers' council supported. In this regard, and all with the aim of better organization of teaching, a decision was made that students from two classes (IV/2 and II/2), a total of 29 students, of which 11 students from Plav who enrolled last year in the Electrical Engineer for Web and Mobile Application Development major, will start the 2025/26 school year at their home school in Plav, until the school board and the Ministry agree. The initiative was sent to the school board for consideration and the school board made a decision that students enrolled in the Gusinje Primary School will continue their education there. They note that the founder, "In this case, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation is the only competent authority for the establishment or 'closure' of a regional school department," Balić said in a statement.

He called on DPS Gusinje "to stop spreading disinformation and politicizing education," and to engage in constructive dialogue in the interests of young people and their future.