Urgent supply of fuel oil and long-term solution to heating problems in Kolašin schools is needed

Urgent procurement of the amount of fuel oil necessary for heating classrooms, as well as a long-term solution to the heating problem in Kolašin's primary, secondary and music schools, as well as in the kindergarten, was requested from the mass protest of parents, which was organized this morning at Risto Manojlović Primary School.

There was no heating in that institution for the past two days, so the classes were shortened to 30 minutes. However, only a small number of primary school students came to class today. The majority of parents are in favor of a complete boycott of classes, until heating is provided, it was heard at today's meeting.

President of the Council of Parents, Milena Vlahović, said that problems with heating in three Kolašin schools and a kindergarten have existed since 2011, and that parents can no longer send their children to cold classrooms.

"Every year it happens that during cold days the heating is insufficient, regardless of the school's attempts to rationalize and heat for one or a few hours at a time, in order to save money. There were periods when there was no heating at all. A few years ago, children were in school without heating for about 20 days in December. "For years, the Council of Parents has been writing to the Ministry, but now we have decided to draw attention to the huge problem faced by Kolasin's primary, secondary, music school and kindergarten, that is, the children and about 140 employees in those institutions," she said.

Vlahović reminds of the need to create a new project for heating, given that three educational institutions and one preschool institution are now heated from one boiler room.

As the director of Elementary School Risto Manojlović, Nataša Peković, told "Vijesta", a small number of students came to class, but, even so, classes will be held for them today. She said that she had promises that the necessary amounts of fuel would arrive quickly, but she could not to specify when.

"We respect the parents' right to protest, but also the teachers' right to work and the students who came to class today. Everything seems to solve the heating problem, but I can't say anything concrete about when the heating will arrive. We had promises for the previous week as well. I think that the Ministry of Education is doing and has done everything they can. "He has been expecting fuel since last week, because 15 days ago we sent information that we are running out of heating oil," she said.

Peković told her parents that boycotting classes is the "worst case scenario", but that she respects their decision. She drew attention to the fact that, in addition to students, dozens of teachers work in unheated rooms, and that she feels responsible for them as well. Peković announced an emergency session of the teachers' council.

Just to start the boiler during the first hour of heating, she explained, 300 liters of fuel oil are needed, and during each subsequent hour 200 liters are consumed. The director says that certain amounts of fuel oil have been used rationally so far.

At the protest, a change was also requested to the regulations that determine the amount of fuel for heating schools, and according to which the main criterion is the number of students, not the area of ​​the schools.