Trial on Vučurović's lawsuit against the state: Psychologist and pedagogue testified, saying that the procedure was not carried out

And a former psychologist at that institution Marija Gošović and a teacher Gordana Arsovic claimed yesterday that in the case of a former student's report SV against former professor of the "Slobodan Škerović" High School R. Č. no formal procedure was carried out, stating that the important circumstance was that she was not a student at the school at that time.

They stated this before a judge of the Basic Court. Miloš Jokanović, during a hearing in the proceedings conducted following the lawsuit of the former director Biljana Vučurović against the state.

Gošović spent more than two hours answering questions from Vučurović and her attorney, outlining what she knew about the former student's report and the school's actions.

Vučurović previously sued the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MESI) seeking to overturn the decision to dismiss her from the position of principal of the high school. She was dismissed in January last year by the decision of the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation. Angel Jakšić Stojanović after the education inspectorate determined that it had not adequately responded to a report of sexual harassment by a former student in 2021. The case of Professor R. Č., who sent inappropriate messages to the student, was further highlighted in a text by the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIN CG) published in late November 2024.

Gošović said yesterday that she learned about the case in the principal's office, when a former student stated that after the prom night she received inappropriate messages from a professor.

"I emphasize that SV was a former student of our school, so the only advice I could give her was to contact the Health Center, where therapists provided psychological support to young people," said Gošović, specifying that if it were a student at the school, she would have had to act according to protocol and involve her parents and competent institutions.

“The school team did not meet regarding this case and there was no formal procedure,” she said.

She pointed out that none of the students reported the professor, nor did she get the impression through conversations with the students that anyone was threatened.

"When SV came to the office, I thought the police should have been called, but the police are not called by the school psychologist, but by the school principal," she said.

Teacher Arsović said that a former student approached her, and that she assessed that the situation was beyond her jurisdiction, after which they went to Vučurović.

"The director listened to S. in my presence, and together we concluded that she needed to notify the police," she said, adding that S. then said she did not want to call the police. She added that a formal meeting regarding the report was not held, nor was the procedure stipulated in the protocol carried out.

"I had no need to follow that protocol, because I was neither a member of the team nor the director," said Arsović.

During the several-hour hearing, there was some disapproval, so attorney Vučurović objected to Gošović's testimony, stating that he showed "partial memory" and gave contradictory answers, and she also pointed out that Gošović currently works in the department that Vučurović dismissed.

Objections were also raised during the Arsović hearing, when it was requested that the court admonish the witness and the state representative for behavior that, as stated, created an “atmosphere of frivolity.” The court assessed that there was no need to admonish.

Both witnesses stated that they were not familiar with the content of the emails that the former student sent to the principal.