Former special education teacher at the "Pavle Rovinski" Elementary School in Podgorica, Ivan Milović, announced that he will go on a hunger strike starting today, because a vacancy has been announced for his position, and the dispute between the school and him has not yet been resolved.
In a letter he sent to the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, which was seen by "Vijesti", he stated that the strike would begin today at 9.00:XNUMX a.m., in front of the ministry's building. He also announced that, if his demands are not met in the meantime, he would begin a thirst strike on Monday.
Milović requested that the Ministry, led by Anđela Jakšić Stojanović, withdraw the consent of the "Pavle Rovinski" Elementary School to announce a vacancy for a non-working position of defectologist for an indefinite period:
"Because the job is under dispute, and you know it. So the director deceived you when asking for permission or you deliberately agreed to be deceived," he stated in the letter.
He also requested that, "due to numerous orders from the education and other inspections, Minister Jakšić Stojanović, on her own initiative, conduct an extraordinary inspection in order to determine all irregularities occurring in the school."
He also demanded that the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation dismiss the director of the "Pavle Rovinski" Elementary School, Nataša Popović, and inform the public "how many tenths of the dismissal orders have been received from the Education Inspectorate" for her dismissal.
"Vijesti" asked the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, among other things, whether they were aware that former special education teacher at the "Pavle Rovinski" Elementary School Ivan Milović, who was fired by the current director Nataša Popović while he was on sick leave, and on which the Basic Court is to decide by February 27, has announced a hunger strike.
They were also asked whether the Ministry, if the Basic Court rules in favor of Milović, will suggest to the school not to appeal to the Higher Court, given that this would leave Milović without income for some time, and that the state would have to pay the unpaid salaries, as well as default interest.
The Ministry confirmed yesterday that they were aware of Ivan Milović's announcement that he would begin a hunger strike, followed by a thirst strike, but also said that they could not suggest to the school what to do:
"Since Mr. Milović's employer is a school, which is autonomous in carrying out its activities, the Ministry cannot suggest to the school administration what steps to take next. We believe that the case will be resolved in the best interests of the school and the children," they stated in their response.
"Vijesti" also asked Anđela Jakšić Stojanović, the department head, whether they were aware that before the new General Law on Education came into force, the Education Inspectorate had repeatedly proposed dismissing Popović, but that the then School Board had not acted on it, and if so, whether the Ministry of Education and Science was reacting to those proposals by the Education Inspectorate.
"When it comes to the proposals of the Education Inspectorate for the dismissal of the principal, the School Board decided on these cases before the new General Education Law came into force, and they cannot be reconsidered," they stated in the response.
In addition to the Ministry, Milović also addressed the Education Inspectorate yesterday with a request for urgent action.
Among other things, he stated that on January 21st, a vacancy for the position of "defectologist-speech therapist" at the "Pavle Rovinski" Elementary School was announced on the website of the Employment Agency.
"Since a special education teacher-speech therapist is one job, and since I was employed in that job until October 20, 10, when I was illegally dismissed from my job, I ask you to check how it is possible to announce a vacancy for an indefinite period for a job position that is under dispute. I also sent you a request for action, but you declared yourself incompetent in relation to the fact that a dispute is being conducted before the court on that issue," Milović stated in his request to the Education Inspectorate.
He recalled that in his case at the Basic Court in Podgorica, the evidentiary proceedings were completed on January 27th and that the deadline for the verdict regarding the "unlawful dismissal" had begun.
"I emphasize that the verdict requests the imposition of a temporary measure, in the sense of returning to work until the verdict is pronounced. It is extremely clear that the goal of this action by the director of the 'Pavle Rovinski' elementary school is to illegally hire a new person to my job, and then prevent the execution of the verdict. I ask that you prevent her from doing so by taking urgent action," Milović said.
In the request, he also informed the Education Inspectorate that he was starting a hunger strike.
The dispute between the administration of the Pavle Rovinski Elementary School and Milović began in September 2023, when the principal reported him for a photo of him with a student at the Podgorica school. The photo, taken a year earlier, had circulated on social media with a clear allusion that the teaching assistant was in an inappropriate position in relation to the girl.
The case was closed by the previous school administration at the time, with the assessment that there was nothing controversial. Popović said in a statement to "Vijesti" that she updated the story because the mother of the child in the photo changed her statement and allegedly accused the special education teacher. The child's mother, however, denied the principal's allegations and maintained her previous position, which is on the side of the special education teacher. Later, the Parents' Council of that school also failed to get information from the principal at its meeting, which is why, in addition to the controversial photo, it reported the teaching assistant to the police.
In November 2023, the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica dismissed the complaint filed by Popović against Milović regarding the disputed photograph.
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