The Basic State Prosecutor's Office is investigating whether the former director of the private educational center "The British Academy" Nemanja Kalezić and an employee of that institution, a British citizen AM obtained unlawful material gain, misleading parents and charging tuition fees contrary to the Founder's Decision on enrollment in the 2024/25 school year.
The institution, headed by Dusko Milanović, is also investigating whether the former director's wife Maja Kalezić abused her official position while she was managing the state institution Resource Center "1. jun", providing that private school with a preliminary contract for the lease of a gymnasium, on the basis of which, among other things, "The British Academy" received an operating license from the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation last year.
According to the filers of the criminal complaint, Kalezić was briefly registered as the director of that private institution in the Central Register of Business Entities (CRPS) at the end of August, without terminating her employment at the Podgorica state elementary school where she was employed.
"Regarding your inquiry, we inform you that the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica has opened cases for both reports, and that they are currently under investigation. All measures and actions provided for by law are being taken in the aforementioned cases," the Podgorica ODT replied to "Vijesti".
The British Academy responded to the editorial board that they "strongly reject allegations of unlawful gain."
"Tuition fees for the 2024/2025 school year were charged in full accordance with the Founder's Decision, and all prices were transparently presented to parents upon enrollment and publicly available," the responses state, among other things.
The Education Inspectorate briefly banned the work of the private institution "The British Academy" in early September because, among other things, it was determined that at the end of the last school year they had issued more than 170 certificates to students, even though they had a license to enroll 30 students, at three levels of education - preschool, primary and secondary.
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The private institution appealed the decision to the Ministry of Education. At the same time, they requested that the Education Inspectorate postpone the enforcement of the decision on the ban on work until a decision is made on the appeal, which the inspectors accepted, in order to protect the interests of the students attending the institution.
Academic Director signing documents
The reports to the prosecutor's office state that several parents concluded a contract for the provision of private educational services with "The British Academy", which was signed on behalf of that institution by British citizen AM.
"The conclusion of the contract was preceded by a tour of the school and its presentation by A. M., who identified himself as the director. Among other things, he introduced the injured parties to the price list, which was available on the school's website until a few months ago, and can still be found on the institution's Instagram profile. According to that price list, the injured parties regularly paid their tuition fees, until they found out that they had been defrauded," it was emphasized, among other things, in the report, which "Vijesti" has access to.
The applicants also submitted extensive documentation as evidence to the state prosecutors.
When asked in what capacity AM signed contracts with parents, if he was not the school director, The British Academy replied that "Mr. AM serves as the school's academic director, responsible for implementing the Cambridge program and improving the quality of teaching."
"Based on the school's authorization, he signed contracts with parents in his capacity as academic director - it is in this role that parents know him. As a highly qualified expert with extensive experience, he further confirms the international character and strength of our institution," the private institution claims.
Negotiations, preliminary contract and registration with the CRPS
In the complaint against the former director of the Resource Center "1. jun" Kalezić, the applicants allege that she abused her position and exceeded her authority in order to obtain a benefit for the private international school.
The application states that she did this by signing a preliminary contract to lease a gymnasium so that "The British Academy" could obtain a permit to operate from the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation.
"On 18.6.2024. as the director of the Public Institution Resource Center for Education and Upbringing '1. jun' Podgorica, she concluded with 'Global Education' a preliminary contract for the lease of a school hall, with the aim of obtaining a license for the private educational institution 'The British Academy', although she was aware and knew that she would not and could not conclude a lease contract, nor would the said private institution use that hall. In doing so, she abused her position and exceeded the limits of her authority, all with the aim of benefiting the private institution from obtaining a license (which is a necessary, legal condition for issuing the license in question), and of benefiting her husband Nemanja Kelezić from employment as the director of the private institution, although she knew that the private institution would seriously violate the right of children to education, thereby misleading the Ministry of Education, and all with the aim of issuing a license...", states the criminal complaint, which offers a preliminary contract for the lease, but the Ministry's decision on issuing a license, a letter from the "1. jun" center from mid-May...
The complaint against Kalezić was supplemented in early September, and the prosecution was offered additional evidence, including information that she was appointed director of The British Academy at the end of August, despite the fact that she had not completed her work engagement at the Podgorica state elementary school.
The prosecution was also provided with extracts from the Central Register of Business Entities (crps.me), which show that Kalezić is listed as the director of a private institution.
Kalezić told "Vijesti" that she "has no information about the criminal report and cannot comment on its possible content."
"Regarding the engagement with 'The British Academy', I was in negotiations about a job offer for the position of director. I withdrew from those negotiations for personal reasons, so there was neither a need nor an obligation to officially inform anyone about it," claims Kalezić.
However, "The British Academy" says otherwise - that "a preliminary contract was signed with Kalezić, which was terminated after just a few days for personal reasons, without her being formally appointed to the position of director."
"Ms. was soon appointed acting director." Vanja Rakočević, from among the school's employees, ensuring uninterrupted continuity in work. 'The British Academy' continues to work with full dedication and optimism in the best interests of its students and parents. We rely on international standards and the trust of the community, confident that the upcoming period will confirm the stability and quality of our educational work," the response, signed by TBA Team, states.
Nadzor
The inspection of this Podgorica private school began in mid-June, after the Education Inspectorate submitted control requests, which expressed suspicion that "The British Academy" did not meet the criteria on the basis of which they were issued a work permit last year.
In their August findings, the inspectors concluded that the initiators had accurately pointed out most of the irregularities.
Through an inspection of school records, it was determined that more than 170 certificates were issued at the end of the last school year, and that only about 80 students were registered in the registry books.
During the inspection, it was also determined that eight out of 11 teachers do not have a license to work in an educational institution and that they are allegedly mostly foreign citizens.
It was determined that Kalezić also does not meet the legal requirements, as he does not have at least five years of teaching experience, which is one of the basic criteria for managing a school.
The British Academy Educational Center previously rejected the allegations in the inspection request and claimed that they had all the documentation, as well as a good relationship with the parents.
They stressed that they had submitted a request to amend the license. They also said that only some parents were dissatisfied, and that they "know the motives for such an attitude towards the institution," which is why they sought help from the relevant educational institutions, and also hired a legal team.
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