Fejzić: If the Sarajevo Canton Government doesn't need us, let them close the University of Sarajevo

The situation at the University of Sarajevo has never been worse. Teachers and employees of Sarajevo faculties received their last salary in March, and an increase in tuition fees has been announced, which has caused numerous reactions from students, writes the Patria News Agency.

Nihad Fejzić, a member of the Senate and Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Sarajevo, is outraged by the authorities' actions towards the University, and in an interview for NAP, he says that this cannot continue.

- The financing of the University must be resolved. We can no longer tolerate students blaming us for increasing tuition fees. It's as if this country doesn't need us. If they don't need us, let the Sarajevo Canton Government, i.e., our founder, close us down, and we will manage, I don't know what else to do - says Fejzić.

He further notes that he has the feeling that they are a burden to this country.

- We just need SIPA to start arresting us. I don't know, we are all driven mad by this situation. If there is no money, it should be stated clearly and salaries should be reduced. Although these are not astronomical figures. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has 170 employees, 80 of whom are teachers, and the rest are staff with secondary vocational education, and these people have salaries of 700-800 marks, which was set by the Canton - Fejzić added.

Otherwise, the Sarajevo Canton Government does not allocate a single mark for teaching, which is a particular burden for many faculties.

- Specifically, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has not increased tuition fees, although medical sciences are the most expensive in the world. Our regular student pays 265 KM, and this includes all obligations: enrollment fee, student insurance, SPUS contribution, Suad Dilberović Fund, internet, internship in Sanski Most, library... These are funds that we use responsibly for the quality of teaching, because our founder does not provide us with anything for teaching. A veterinarian is not trained in a classroom, but in laboratories through treatment - Fejzić added.

As an example of how difficult their operations are, Fejzić cited the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

- The Canton provides 140 salaries and 10 percent of that amount for material costs. That's 22,000 KM, which is not enough for heating in December. So, as dean, I deal more with utilities, I am more of a director than a dean. And how am I supposed to manage, let someone write me a formula. It is high time for something to be done - Fejzić added, stating that he is aware that there are issues at the faculties as well, from corruption to crime, but that there are mechanisms to stop it.

- It is obvious that something is not right. They don't invest a single mark in teaching, so from what funds will the faculties be financed? Mechanisms exist, they just need to be activated and respected - Fejzić added.