Mašić: FBiH respects the rights of Serbs, Dodik is abusing Bosniaks in RS

Federal Minister of Education and Science Damir Mašić told the BiH news agency Patria (NAP) that by not approving the national group of subjects for Bosniak children from Konjević Polje and Vrbanjci, the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina is being directly violated. He does not understand, he says, why the institutions of the international community are not getting involved in resolving this issue.

- I am primarily thinking of the OHR, of the High Representative Valentin Inzko, who should have reacted to the torture that the RS authorities are carrying out against children of Bosniak nationality – Mašić told NAP.

In the Federation of BiH, he says, there is not a single child of Serb or Croat nationality whose basic human rights have not been respected, which includes, among other things, having a national group of subjects in their regular education. Unfortunately, Mašić added, the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, is once again scoring cheap political points on the backs of innocent children.

Children from Konjević Polje will also go to an alternative school in Nova Kasaba this year, because they cannot study the national group of subjects at the primary school “Petar Kočić” in Kravica.

After the RS authorities failed to provide the national group of subjects for Bosniak children in this school this year either, their parents forbade them from attending this school. Bosniak children from Konjević Polje are now attending an alternative school provided by the Federal Ministry of Education and Science in cooperation with the Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- The parents from Konjević Polje, whose children are being denied basic human rights, only 20 years ago survived the most horrific genocide on European soil after World War II, and the parents of children from Vrbanjci near Kotor Varoš survived some of the greatest atrocities – Mašić added.

The OHR announced that they are disappointed by the negligible progress that authorities throughout BiH, at all levels, have made in implementing positive changes that would ensure full respect for the right to education of every child. Before the start of the school year, the OHR says, much more should have been done to resolve all outstanding issues.

- The fact that the Conference of Ministers of Education has not yet reached lasting and long-term solutions in the field of education does not absolve each individual minister of their personal responsibility to ensure respect for children's fundamental right to inclusive education without discrimination. We take this opportunity to call on all education ministers in Bosnia and Herzegovina to do everything in their power to resolve the remaining contentious issues within their jurisdictions, so that children, free from any disputes, can focus on learning – the OHR stated for NAP.

- The situation in Konjević Polje and Vrbanjci indicates the need for these issues to be resolved urgently. At the same time, parents and the RS Ministry of Education should resume direct dialogue without further delay. It is of utmost importance to reach an agreement on concrete solutions that will ensure that children return to classrooms and receive adequate education. There is no alternative but for all interested parties to begin sincere discussions to find a way forward in the best interests of the children – the OHR statement further reads, as reported by NAP.