The regional department of the Elementary School "Risto Ratković", in the Pripčići settlement three kilometers from the center of Bijelo Polje, is in a catastrophic state.
Locals say that they are outraged that even after decades of promises, students from the settlement still do not have basic conditions for attending school.
Miljan Merdović, whose two children go to that school, says that the conditions in that educational institution do not meet even the minimum standards, starting with hygiene.
"The school has one classroom, a sink, and the toilets are only outside. They heat themselves on the stove, so last year it happened that the children pushed each other and one of them set fire to his jacket. Fortunately, there were no consequences. There are gaping holes on several sides, the windows are patched with paper," says Merdović, adding that the staff is fighting as hard as they can, to disinfect the premises and the children, but that all this is not enough.
His neighbor Marko Drobnjak claims that the school is in a state of decay. "I am 29 years old now, and since the seventh grade, when I started that school, there have been rumors that it is going to be renovated. Nothing has been done since then, not even the roof tiles have been replaced. The windows are made of cardboard, nailed with boards, it blows from all sides," he said. Because of this, part of the citizens of that suburban settlement take their children to the "Risto Ratković" home school in Nikoljec.
The citizens are outraged, especially since there is already a project for the school, and for help in the construction, according to their claims, a citizen who would like to help his village was interested.
Because of these problems, the director of the home school "Risto Ratković" Sreto Pavićević met with the parents on Monday.
"The school in Pripcici is attended by 14 children up to the fifth grade, in two shifts. The situation is really bad and it is necessary to build a new school. We have contacted the Ministry of Education several times and we will contact the Ministry of Education again, and we have received feedback from the Municipality that they will help, even though it is not within their jurisdiction," Pavićević said.
The Municipality of Bijelo Polje reminded that school projects are usually implemented through the capital budget.
"Considering the school in Pripcici to be very important, in order to help and speed up the process, the Municipality designed a new school in 2016 and provided a building permit. The estimated value was around 200 euros", the Municipality announced.
The local government adds that the project has been handed over to the Ministry of Education for further jurisdiction.
"At the same time, we tried to secure a donor for the construction of the school, but so far we have not succeeded. We hope that the Ministry of Education will make this school one of the next priorities in the territory of the municipality of Bijelo Polje.
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