Bosniak children from Konjević Polje to return to school on 29 January, will there be enough money?

On Thursday, 29 January 2015, 118 Bosniak children from Konjević Polje will start the second semester of instructional classes conducted according to the curriculum of the Sarajevo Canton in the Islamic Community facility in Nova Kasaba, writes the Bosnian news agency Patria.

We recall, after parents from Konjević Polje protested at the beginning of the 2013/2014 school year because their children were not allowed to study the national group of subjects and the Bosnian language, it was decided to organise instructional classes.

As the parents' representative Muhzin Omerović told the Patria agency, everyone hopes to continue receiving support from the Federal Ministry of Science and Education, as was the case with Minister Damir Mašić.

- We do not know who the new minister will be, we hope to have support. According to the plan, we start classes on the 29th, and in the meantime we will fight to secure funds. I hope there will be no problems – said Omerović, who will hold a meeting on Monday with the teachers and project coordinator Nihad Čolić.

Omerović emphasised that all 16 teachers understood the magnitude of their struggle and to date no one has given up, despite salary delays, and they are now also without health insurance since the teachers are employed on a contract basis.

The coordinator of the instructional classes project in Nova Kasaba, Nihada Čolić, stated in an interview with Patria that they expect funds for the second semester as well and that an eight-month project was agreed with Minister Mašić.

- We are enthusiasts, so even if there is no money, we will sacrifice one month. However, the bigger question for me is what happens after May. The first semester was financed without problems, but we will try to reach an agreement – said Čolić, who emphasised that everyone is dedicated to this project.

She said that at the end of December they conducted an evaluation and saw that the children had acquired quality knowledge.

- This process must continue – said Čolić, who is also an advisor for preschool, primary and secondary education for the relevant minister of the Sarajevo Canton.

The project of schooling for Bosniak children was also supported by the Ministry of Displaced Persons and Refugees, headed by Minister Adil Osmanović, and the Bosniak Fund.

- Such support will be needed in the future as well – said Omerović.