Aliefendić: Populism has become a synonym for an imposed government, where money for free textbooks is lacking

(Patria) - Member of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Almedin Aliefendić, sharply criticized the imposed Federation Government for unfulfilled promises regarding free textbooks for students from 1st to 5th grade of primary school.

Aliefendić emphasized that populism has become a synonym for the government imposed in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- They promised the procurement of free textbooks for students from 1st to 5th grade of primary school, which the Federal Ministry of Education and Science boasted about and informed the public, including cantonal ministries of education. Now that the school year has already started, textbooks have not yet been secured for schoolchildren, he said, adding:

Government officials earlier promised the procurement of free textbooks for the mentioned students, a move that the Federal Ministry of Education and Science highlighted and communicated to the public, including cantonal ministries of education.

However, as the school year has already begun, textbooks are still not secured for schoolchildren, Aliefendić claims.

He adds that students and their parents will be deprived of textbooks and support during the 2023/2024 school year.

The procurement of textbooks depends on the planned funds in the Budget of the Federation of BiH, but the Government has not adopted that budget nor submitted it to the parliamentary procedure. Unfortunately, this means that students and their parents will be deprived of textbooks and support in the 2023/2024 school year. The Government of the Federation of BiH and the relevant Federal Ministry of Education and Science have failed to fulfill their promises and have shown a lack of seriousness in their work.

Aliefendić called on Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić to urgently coordinate the budget rebalance with coalition partners and submit it for adoption to the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- I call on Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić to urgently coordinate with his coalition partners the budget rebalance and submit it for adoption to the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this way, we can prevent other citizens from suffering the fate of students who were left without secured textbooks. If you are unable to fulfill your regular obligations and promises to citizens, please resign, because what you are currently presenting is not in the interest of the citizens – Aliefendić stated.