Two private kindergartens in Bar have raised their prices by 50 euros, after the Bar Municipal Assembly this month adopted a decision to charge that amount for children's stay and meals in kindergartens. This has caused a revolt among parents, who claim that it is abuse, while the preschool institutions say that their costs have increased drastically and that private kindergarten is not a necessity, but a choice.
In the private kindergarten "Mala Bajka", children's stay has so far cost 150 euros per month and from this January it will be 200 euros, although parents will pay the same amount as before, because the local government this year covers 50 euros per child, which is why those whose children attend these preschool institutions will not feel the relief they were promised.
The "Svjetionik" kindergarten also confirmed that the price will be 50 euros higher in the coming period, but the owner of the preschool institution Ivana Durutović She did not want to say the exact amount of accommodation and meals because, as she said, she believes that it should not be made public because it is defined in the contract with the parents.
Several parents contacted "Vijesti" on this occasion and said that they consider this behavior to be extremely inappropriate and that it is an abuse of municipal regulations that were intended to make it easier for parents to pay for kindergarten.
In correspondence on the Viber group of the "Mala bajka" kindergarten, which was provided to "Vijesti" by parents, one of them wrote that they think it is unacceptable that their right to a 50 euro subsidy is being taken away.
"This decision completely defeats the purpose of the subsidy, as parents do not receive any real financial relief. We especially highlight parents who have two children in kindergarten, for whom the total monthly cost is already extremely high," wrote the mother of a child attending the kindergarten.
She concluded that if there is a need for additional financial support in kindergartens, this issue should be resolved through the Municipality of Bar and the relevant institutions, and not at the expense of parents.
Another parent told the editorial staff that in this way they are being deprived of a right that all other parents in Bar have and are abusing municipal regulations that are presented as a benefit and, almost, a gift for those whose children attend kindergartens in that city.
"It must be admitted that this price increase came at a strange time, especially because it was not discussed earlier, but we were informed via a message in the group, and when we objected, we received a response that these were the cheapest kindergartens in Montenegro, that we were being served, in other words, that we should be grateful that the increase was not greater," he said.
Two private preschool institutions claim that this is a previously planned increase, which they agreed upon among themselves, because their prices have increased: rent, electricity, food... Because of this situation, the directors of the two kindergartens were at a meeting in the Municipality of Bar yesterday, with the secretary for local self-government. Svetlana Gažević, and claim that the administration understands them and that there is nothing controversial.
Rujka Jelenic, the owner of "Mala bajka", told "Vijesti" in a telephone conversation that the prices of rent and food were raised at the beginning of January, and that the kindergarten covered the difference, and in the future the Municipality of Bar will do so through a subsidy program, so parents will not feel an additional burden, but the price for them will remain the same.
"Every February 1st, we raise the price, and it has nothing to do with these (subsidies). It's a full-day stay of eight hours. They can stay for ten hours, they have food, they have everything. I've been working for 48 years and I've never had a problem," she said, emphasizing that although the Municipality of Bar will provide 50 euros per child, "private and state kindergartens" cannot be the same.
The rent, he claims, was 350 euros until September last year, and then increased to 600 euros, and an additional burden is the increase in electricity prices, especially in winter, when the air conditioners are constantly on.
Jelenić also says that state kindergartens receive everything from the Ministry of Education, and that the price at her kindergarten is half the real costs of a state kindergarten, which are around 300 euros per child, and which are not covered by parents but by the relevant ministry.
She said that the contract she signs with the parents, which states a price of 150 euros, states that the price will be increased in the event of a jump in the cost of utilities and rent. She also said that her kindergarten has raised its price by about 70 euros in 20 years, because in 2004, a stay at that preschool cost 70 euros.
Da roditelji neće plaćati poskupljenje već će im ono biti nadomješteno od strane opštine poručuje i direktorica “Svjetionika” Ivana Durutović, pa naglašava da su taj dio pokrili oni sami u januaru a da su im cijene mnogo niže nego što bi trebalo da budu.
She pointed out that she and Jelenić have been operating legally for many years, which is not the case with other illegal kindergartens and daycare centers in Bar, and that parents know this and that "private kindergarten is a choice, not a necessity" because public institutions accept all children, while they have a waiting list.
"This is support for parents and it will remain that way. Whether it is a subsidy or not, the price would definitely be 50 euros more expensive. Parents would have to pay that, this way that part will be covered by the Municipality," Durutović told "Vijesti" and added that the situation with the prices was further explained to parents yesterday and that there is a mutual understanding.
She said that attendance at private kindergartens would also be free, if the costs of licensed private preschools were fully covered by the state, as is the case with state institutions.
Two days ago, the Bar Municipal Assembly adopted a Decision on Financing the Costs of Accommodation and Food for Children in Kindergartens in Bar, which provides for subsidizing the costs of accommodation and food in public and private preschool institutions, licensed by the competent Ministry, up to 50 euros per month.
The total amount of budget funds allocated for this purpose in 2026 is 900 thousand euros. The right to financing the costs of accommodation and food for a child can be exercised by a parent whose child is regularly enrolled and regularly attends and uses the services of the JPU "Vukosava Ivanović Mašanović" or the PPU in the territory of the municipality of Bar, licensed by the competent Ministry, and the child does not exercise the right to free use of kindergarten on any other basis.
In Bar, nearly 1.500 children currently attend public or private preschools.
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