Professor at the Bijelo Polje High School "Miloje Dobrašinović" New Vuković He is staying in the classroom for now. He taught his students yesterday afternoon, and the situation that led to yesterday's student protest will be resolved by the competent inspectorates.
This is the epilogue of yesterday's meeting between representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, the school administration, and Professor Vuković.
Vuković is due to officially retire on April 8, after 43 years of service. He claims that the day before yesterday, at around 10 a.m., with the help of security, the school principal tried to throw him out of class in front of all the students. Jasminka Međedović, which has already secured a new teacher to take over his classes. On the same day, a video appeared on social media showing a security guard entering the classroom during class and Vuković's reaction.
According to unofficial information from "Vijesti", the problem arose when the administration concluded that Vuković had met the requirements for retirement, but did not want to use his annual leave, but rather to continue teaching until April 8th.
Vuković said that the problem escalated after the principal obstructed a celebration organized by students on Tuesday to mark his retirement, and that she deliberately scheduled a cross-country race that day so that students would not come to school, emphasizing that the principal ignored a written request from representatives of all 19 classes who asked to organize his retirement farewell.
The school administration did not want to make any statements regarding the case.
Some students at the Gymnasium refused to go to class yesterday and organized a protest, saying they would not tolerate the "indecent behavior of the school principal towards Professor Novo Vuković." They said they had gathered to support "a professor who deserved to retire with dignity."
Director of the Directorate of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation Svetlana Drobnjak She said after the meeting that it was agreed to involve all competent institutions in order to determine the reasons that led to such a situation, and that it was too early to talk about anyone's responsibility, which would be determined after the competent inspections and institutions had done their part of the work.
"What was stated at the meeting is that yesterday's classroom scene is something that should not happen in any classroom. The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation will always be in favor of a dignified educational process, you create the dignity of schools, we in the Ministry create the dignity of schools, and we create the dignity of schools together with our colleagues, teachers, and all school employees," said Drobnjak, which was greeted with applause from the students.
Both Drobnjak and Vuković called on the students to return to class, after which the students ended their protest.
Vuković also emphasized that because of everything he expects and demands the dismissal of Director Međedović.
"Vijesti" journalist experiences unpleasantness at school
Numerous journalistic teams were unable to obtain a statement from Međedović the day before yesterday or yesterday, and a journalist from “Vijesti” experienced the inconvenience of reporting on the event. On Thursday, at the invitation of some teachers and students, the journalist came to the school, and wanting to get information from the principal as well, she explained at the door why she was in the institution. The security guard, who did not show her ID, explained that she had to see the principal and took her to the official premises. After a few moments, she returned, claiming that Međedović had told the journalist from “Vijesti” to leave the institution. Surprised by the manner of communication, the journalist knocked, briefly opened the door to Međedović’s office, explained why and how she found herself in front of the school’s official premises in the first place, to which the principal told her that she had to leave the institution, without specifying whether she would respond to the views of the students and Vuković.
According to the journalist, the security guard in the yard was also unpleasant and followed her the entire time until she left the school grounds.
Međedović later apologized to the journalist in a private conversation.
Tina Popovic
Bonus video:
