Bosnian language returns to Elementary School Sveti Sava

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - By decision of the Basic Court in Kotor Varoši, from the next school year, children from Vrbanjci may finally attend classes at the Elementary School Sveti Sava, but this time according to the Bosnian curriculum. Experts say that Vrbanjci could be a good example for realizing the right to education in their mother tongue throughout the entire territory of Republika Srpska.

Parents from Vrbanjci, whose children have been attending classes in an outreach department of the Jelaha school for eight years instead of their local school, due to the absence of a national group of subjects, and in the premises of the local mosque, do not hide their satisfaction with the decision of the court from Kotor Varoši. They say that their years-long legal battle has paid off, and their children will also be able to exercise their rights.

 „That the children return tomorrow to go together with Serbs, Croats, to go to school together, to socialize. As they say, to build a better future for all of them, because this country, BiH, will remain theirs,“ believes one of the parents, Nedžad Smajlović.

 „We hope, God willing, that we will all together with other children realize their rights and attend classes in their Bosnian language,“ says Selvira Bilić, a parent.

After the Supreme Court of Republika Srpska, more than a year ago, accepted the lawsuit of parents from Vrbanjci, and the Sveti Sava school did not implement the decision, the Basic Court in Kotor Varoši rejected all objections from the Government of RS and the defendant school, and ordered actions and measures by which a national group of subjects is introduced into the school.

„RS and the school no longer have any reason or legal remedy to ignore the final verdict of the Supreme Court, and this will have to be resolved, even if it means imposing a fine,“ said Haris Kaniža, legal representative of the children's parents.