The administration of the "Branko Božović" Elementary School in Podgorica should use various methods to examine the satisfaction of students when it comes to teachers' work with them, and for pedagogues and psychologists at the school to cooperate with the parents of those students who express dissatisfaction, in order to hear their views and plan how to overcome certain situations.
If such disagreements continue, it is necessary to provide school mediation.
These are, among other things, the recommendations of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms (Ombudsman), in response to a complaint by parents of students at a Podgorica elementary school about the work of one of the teachers.
Since one student, in this specific case and due to, as stated by the parents, the teacher's behavior, stopped attending regular classes and is attending the class part-time, the Ombudsman also recommended that the school conduct counseling with her parents, so that the student could continue to attend regularly the following school year.
Complaint about the teacher's work SS The complaint was filed by the mother of a fifth-grade student at the "Branko Božović" Elementary School in Podgorica, alleging that the teacher "behaves rudely and aggressively towards students, humiliates children on national and religious grounds."
The complaint also states that SS was interviewed, that the parents contacted the school administration several times, but that nothing changed.
"That since the beginning of the year she has been acting inappropriately and rudely towards students, that when a child makes a mistake she uses inappropriate words like 'you are an ill-mannered, problematic and illiterate child... you have problems in your head... your parents don't care about you... you have problems in your family, that's why you behave like that'...", the complaint states. It adds that SS often called students "street urchins", allegedly insulting them on ethnic grounds, "and if she sees a rosary or a cross on a child, she raises her voice and asks them to take it off, otherwise she will throw it in the trash".
It is also stated that the SS allegedly told a student who was carrying a backpack with the symbols of the Partizan Football Club that he should support Podgorica's Budućnost...
The mother of the student who signed the complaint, among other things, stated that she believes that her daughter, as well as other children whose parents also signed the complaint, are not adequately protected.
During the investigation, the Defender received statements from the “Branko Božović” Elementary School, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, the Educational Inspectorate and the Institute for Education.
In the final assessment, the Ombudsman states that the student was enrolled in the 2022/2023 school year, in the 2025rd grade, that she successfully completed that and 4th grade, and that until March 2025, no complaints were submitted to the school administration regarding the work of the teacher. The mother first contacted the administration on March XNUMX, XNUMX, at that time about the work of the SS teacher, and as stated, during the same period, some other parents also complained about the teacher's work. It is also added that there are parents who indicated that the teacher performs her job professionally.
The teacher denied the allegations in the complaint and said that she believes the problem is that students enter fifth grade without adequate knowledge, and that parents and students have high expectations when it comes to grades. Among other things, she said that she is open to any way to overcome the situation.
The Ombudsman also notes that the student, whose mother signed the complaint, has not been to school for a long time, that no justification has been provided, that the student has informed the administration about this and stated that she does not cooperate with her parents. Due to the irregular attendance, the school has informed the Ministry of Education and the Center for Social Work (CSR). The Ombudsman was also unable to establish whether the school, following the complaint, interviewed the student and other children whose parents signed the complaint. According to the School, a joint meeting of parents and students was organized, but the Ombudsman is of the opinion that in this situation, due to the presence of parents and other children, students may have certain reservations.
The School said that they do not have mechanisms to overcome the situation and that they hope that other institutions will help them with that.
The Protector, however, did not get the impression that the problem was of such a scale that the School could not cope with it, but that it certainly needed cooperation with authorities, such as the Social Welfare Center, in the case of non-attendance and lack of cooperation with parents.
The Education Inspectorate, as stated, did not find grounds to take any action within their jurisdiction.
In this case, the Institute for Education made recommendations for improving communication between teachers and students, as well as communication with parents, in order to regularly inform them about their children's behavior.
The Protector, it is stated, expects that the Institute will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of the educational work of a specific school in due course.
Due to communication problems between parents and class teacher, mediation had to be carried out in order to try to improve communication with parents. This was necessary because it is an aggravating circumstance for the parent... which is the child's class teacher, who by nature the student, or parent, should first contact when a problem arises.
The Ombudsman, the opinion states, could not determine with certainty based on the available data whether the allegations in the complaint are true, but states that the fact that the complaint was signed by eight parents requires a careful assessment of the situation, in order to establish the facts and resolve the situation and remove doubts and uncertainties, "especially given the fact that the allegations of the parents and the teacher were completely contradictory."
"We believe that due to the communication problems between parents and class teacher, mediation should have been carried out in the overall situation, in order to try to improve communication with parents. This was necessary, because the aggravating circumstance for the parent who made the remarks is that it is the child's class teacher, who by nature the student, or parent, should first contact when a problem arises," it states.
Part of the responsibility, the Protector believes, also lies with parents, who, "according to regulations, are obliged to enable their child to receive education and upbringing, and thus to fulfill one of their student duties."
The Protector concludes by stating that in every situation, the priority is to find the best solution for every child, without exception.
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