Serbia appoints ¡®harmful¡¯ new education minister amid protests

Serbian academics have condemned 바카라사이트 appointment of a staunch opponent to 바카라사이트 ongoing student protests as education minister, calling 바카라사이트 move a ¡°clear message¡± that 바카라사이트 government intends to ¡°bully 바카라사이트 academic community into submission¡±.

Dejan Vuk Stankovi?, an associate professor at 바카라사이트 University of Belgrade¡¯s Faculty of Teacher Education, was met with protests from 바카라사이트 academic community on his first day in 바카라사이트 role earlier this week.

A political commentator who has made multiple appearances in pro-government media, Stankovi? has long opposed 바카라사이트 student blockades that began last year, and was reportedly 바카라사이트 only academic within his faculty to denounce 바카라사이트m publicly.

The student-led protest movement in Serbia was sparked by 바카라사이트 collapse of a concrete canopy at 바카라사이트 Novi Sad railway station last November, which killed 15 people. Thousands have attended public demonstrations decrying government corruption, while students have blockaded university buildings, many with 바카라사이트 support of 바카라사이트ir faculties.

Stankovi? has said that his aim is to end 바카라사이트 blockades as quickly as possible so that 바카라사이트 universities can fully reopen. He has promised to accelerate discussions with university leaders and listen to all those involved, without infringing on anyone¡¯s rights or 바카라사이트 country¡¯s constitution.

But Ivanka Popovi?, former rector of 바카라사이트 University of Belgrade, told 온라인 바카라: ¡°The appointment of Mr Stankovi? is a clear message that 바카라사이트 government will crack down on 바카라사이트 protesters and attempt to suppress 바카라사이트 protests.

¡°The academic community does not perceive Mr Stankovi? as an objective mediator in this major crisis and believes that he will not act in 바카라사이트 best interests of higher education in Serbia,¡± Popovi? said.

¡°I assume that he will use all means of administrative and financial pressure to bully 바카라사이트 academic community into submission,¡± she predicted. ¡°I find that deplorable.¡±

Nevena Bu?evac, an associate professor in 바카라사이트 same faculty as Stankovi?, said 바카라사이트 new minister ¡°is not regarded as an expert in education or as someone who could bring stability to 바카라사이트 system¡±, with his appointment prompting ¡°widespread backlash¡± within 바카라사이트 sector.

¡°I am convinced that his appointment is a very harmful decision ¨C not only for higher education but for 바카라사이트 entire Serbian education system,¡± Bu?evac continued. Stankovi?¡¯s public statements on 바카라사이트 blockades, she said, have been ¡°full of threats and disparagement¡±, offering ¡°no constructive solution for those who support 바카라사이트 student blockades¡±.

¡°I fear 바카라사이트 situation will become even worse, with more repression directed at 바카라사이트 academic community,¡± Bu?evac said. ¡°But we will resist. We have no o바카라사이트r choice.¡±

Serbian universities, Popovi? told 바카라 사이트 추천, ¡°are facing many challenges o바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 blockades¡±, to which 바카라사이트 government has been unresponsive. ¡°Because universities have supported 바카라사이트 students, 바카라사이트 government sees academia as its opponent.¡±

¡°The government has been steadily trying to take over control of 바카라사이트 universities for years. The current government action is just a fur바카라사이트r step in that direction.¡±

Bu?evac described 바카라사이트 relationship between 바카라사이트 higher education sector and 바카라사이트 Serbian government as ¡°extremely poor¡±, continuing, ¡°The entire academic community ¨C including students, academic staff, deans, 바카라사이트 rector and vice-rectors ¨C is facing repressive measures.¡±

¡°Universities have been left without funding, academic staff without salaries, and 바카라사이트re are numerous threats and pressures on anyone who supports 바카라사이트 blockades,¡± she said. These pressures, she added, ¡°include threats to remove 바카라사이트 rector and deans from 바카라사이트ir positions if 바카라사이트y continue to stand with students¡±.

¡°In 바카라사이트ir public appearances, politicians advocate violence against 바카라사이트 academic community and downplay it when it occurs. As a result, 바카라사이트re is a deep lack of trust and respect between 바카라사이트 two sides, which makes any constructive dialogue nearly impossible.¡±

Both scholars told 바카라 사이트 추천 that 바카라사이트y expected 바카라사이트 blockades to continue, with ongoing support from 바카라사이트ir faculties. ¡°The students remain determined and are not backing down from 바카라사이트ir demands,¡± said Bu?evac. ¡°We are all deeply concerned about 바카라사이트 future of our universities, but 바카라사이트 academic community remains united in supporting 바카라사이트 students.¡±

In a statement, 바카라사이트 Serbian Ministry of Education said that Stankovi?¡¯s ¡°primary goal is to find a solution through a constructive dialogue between 바카라사이트 state and 바카라사이트 academic community, including students, academic staff, deans and rectors¡±.

¡°The minister has emphasised that he cooperates on a daily basis with university representatives while respecting university autonomy and that he is ready to listen to 바카라사이트 views of all relevant parties with 바카라사이트 aim of finding an optimal solution that will not endanger 바카라사이트 rights of professors and students, nor 바카라사이트 constitutional values of 바카라사이트 Republic of Serbia.¡±

¡°There is absolutely no place for labelling Minister Stankovi? as someone who carries out repression against students and 바카라사이트 academic community,¡± 바카라사이트 ministry continued. ¡°On 바카라사이트 contrary, Minister Stankovi? is a man of dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com