Classes in many schools in Serbia were canceled or shortened yesterday as educators took to the streets to demand a salary increase.
The protest was held yesterday in front of the House of the National Assembly, from where the gathered went to the Serbian Government building and once again rejected the offer for an 11 percent salary increase and demanded that the signed protocol from 2023 be respected, Beta reported.
Educators complain of being poorly paid compared to other public sector workers and of deteriorating working conditions, including violence in schools.
"A country that has such an attitude towards education is a failed country that ... cannot progress in any way," said Ana Dimitrijević, a trade union activist, Reuters reported.
The Ministry of Education announced that about half of the schools were working normally yesterday, while the rest either shortened or canceled classes.
The trade unions demand that the starting salary in the entire education sector be equal to the average monthly salary in the country, which is about 97.000 dinars. The Government of Serbia offered an 11 percent salary increase, starting in January, as well as a one-time payment of 15.000 dinars, which the unions refused.
Speakers in front of the Government reiterated that in the next month, classes in schools will be shortened to 30 minutes, but that an agreement on the complete suspension of classes is also possible.
The president of the Education Union of Serbia, Valentina Ilić, showed the signed protocol from 2023, where it is written that education is a priority and where it is signed how much the salary increase will be.
Education Minister Slavica Đukić Dejanović said on Thursday that the unions should consider the government's offer and that talks on salary increases should continue in January.
"If the educators think that going to the streets... and stopping work are the way to solve things, they are wrong," she told reporters.
Speakers in front of the government reiterated that in the next month, classes in schools will be shortened to 30 minutes, but that if the government continues to act like this, an agreement on the complete suspension of classes is also possible, Beta reported.
In October, the Serbian Parliament adopted the budget rebalance for 2024, projecting a deficit of 2,9 percent of GDP, instead of the planned 2,2 percent.
According to the International Monetary Fund, Serbia's economy is expected to grow by 3,9 percent in 2024, compared to the previously projected 3,5 percent.
Bonus video:
