The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, the Institute for Education and schools - administrations and parents' councils must create a precise and binding regulation on the organization of field trips and excursions, so that situations do not arise where some institutions follow the recommendations and others decide not to.
This was told to "Vijesti" yesterday by the director of the Parents Association. Kristina Mihailović, commenting on yesterday's recommendation by the Institute for Education to primary schools to postpone any planned excursions around Serbia at this time.
The institute did this after inquiries from parents and consultations with the ministries of education and foreign affairs.
"We ask the Parents' Council, as the decision-maker, and the school, as the organizer of the excursion, to reconsider their decision and postpone the planned excursion or, possibly, design an alternative destination that will meet the requirements of safe travel," reads a letter from the Institute for Education sent to all elementary schools.
"Vijesti" was told that, previously, the parents' councils of several elementary schools expressed concern regarding the organization of student excursions in Serbia, which is why the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MESI) contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to obtain an opinion on the safety of our students' departure to the mentioned destination.
The MFA's response, which was submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the political situation in Serbia "has become complex, with daily protests."
"Regarding your address of August 18, 2025, which referred to the assessment of the safety of travel to the Republic of Serbia, and taking into account the assessments of the relevant security authorities and the recommendations of the Embassy of Montenegro in the Republic of Serbia, we inform you that the political situation in the Republic of Serbia has become complex, with daily protests in cities across Serbia, and clashes between citizens and the police. Protests are organized without pre-determined dates, and there are often random blockages of roads, so it is important to keep in mind that it is impossible to assess in advance the traffic situation and possible difficulties that may significantly affect the mobility of movement throughout the country. Caution and detailed information before the trip are recommended," reads the letter from the MFA sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which "Vijesti" has access to.
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Mihailović says that the Association has also received questions in the past few weeks regarding planned excursions to Serbia, given the political situation there. Parents, she explains, are concerned about the safety of their children.
"That's why it's important to create a rulebook that will be binding and so that in the future the procedures are known exactly, what to do, but also what to do and how to act in risky situations. It's best when everything is clearly specified, so that we don't have this option - some will hear and understand the recommendation, and some won't," said Mihailović.
He expects that travel agencies will also be understanding.
"...They have been cooperating with schools for a long time, so we believe that their agreements so far have been profitable and that the safety of children will be taken into account first and assessments will be made accordingly," said Mihailović, recalling that they have repeatedly asked the relevant Ministry to "very clearly and precisely define the organization of the School in Nature program - so that these are no longer recommendations, but binding regulations."
Back in February, the Education Bureau sent instructions to elementary schools and recommended that student excursions not be organized outside the borders of Montenegro.
"If an excursion or trip is intended for elementary school students to visit religious sites, in addition to educational and cultural and historical content, it is necessary that objects of all religions be represented," the Instructions for organizing and implementing these extracurricular activities emphasize.
The document states that excursions are planned multi-day student trips to visit places that have "natural, cultural, historical, scientific, recreational, sporting, economic or technical significance."
According to the Instructions, before going on an excursion or trip, it is important to make a detailed estimate of the costs of transportation, accommodation, meals, as well as entrance fees paid by parents...
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