Young Serbians Take to the Streets Over Unsatisfactory Online Learning and Systemic Issues
Pupils in Serbia rally against distant learning due to widespread protests - Protesting Students in Serbia Voice Discontent Over Online Learning Amidst Widespread Demonstrations
Looks like the music and speeches are back on the streets of Novi Sad, Belgrade, and other Serbian cities! Students and teachers are pissed off and showing it, demanding changes in the education system. One of the disgruntled students, Mateja Fejndovic, a 18-year-old from Belgrade, puts it bluntly: "School needs to change, we need to listen to you," he said, echoing the sentiment of many young protesters. The kid's been on strike for half a year, and he's had enough of online learning. According to him, it ain't gonna solve the problems we're facing.
The current wave of protests in Serbia, initiated by the tragic collapse of a railway station canopy back in November that killed 16 innocent souls, has shifted its focus from the cause of the disaster to targeting President Aleksandar Vucic's government and the rampant corruption in the country. While online learning isn't directly mentioned as a key demand, the movement's focus is on accountability, education reforms, anti-corruption measures, and media accountability.
Students, the primary instigators of these demonstrations, have been occupying universities and organizing colossal rallies. Teachers have been joining in too, with reports suggesting that around 20,000 educators aren't receiving their salaries. It all started back in April when school principals said classes would move online due to the pandemic, a decision that didn't sit well with the students.
But these protests aren't just about the education system. The protesters are demanding accountability for the Novi Sad railway tragedy, a 20% increase in higher education funding, salary protections for teachers, and dropping charges against students and professors arrested during demonstrations. They're also calling for anti-corruption measures, prosecution of those responsible for violence against protesters, media accountability, and an end to repression.
The movement's slogan, "Everything must stop", reflects their defiant stance against the systemic dysfunction they're facing. They want reform, accountability, and democratic renewal. These students and teachers aren't messing around, forming networks like the 'Association of Schools on Strike' to coordinate their efforts and demands. They're not afraid to escalate their actions, either, with school blockades spreading across the nation and general strikes involving workers from various sectors.
- The European Union has also been involved in the fight against corruption in Serbia, including the illegal trafficking of children, as the current protests demand accountability and anti-corruption measures.
- Alongside the issue of online education, Serbian students and teachers are protesting against systemic problems, such as the lack of accountability for the Novi Sad railway tragedy, the need for a 20% increase in higher education funding, and salary protections for teachers.
- Principals in Serbia made the decision to move classes online in April, which is one of the sparking points for the ongoing student protests, focusing on education reforms and their demands for a switch back to traditional classroom learning.
- The Association of Schools on Strike, a network formed by the protesters, is advocating for democratic renewal, media accountability, and an end to repression, in addition to their educational and self-development concerns.
