Mašić and Šućur call on the KS Government to withdraw the higher education law, SDP BiH prepares its own proposals

President of the SDP BiH Sarajevo Municipal Board Damir Mašić and this party's representative in the KS Assembly Slaviša Šućur, ahead of tomorrow's session of the KS Assembly where the Proposal of the Law on Higher Education will be considered, called on the KS Government to withdraw this Proposal because it did not undergo a public hearing, or otherwise, representatives should not support it, reports the Patria agency.

Mašić said that the law needs to be rejected due to the fact that it is a completely new text of the law compared to the previously withdrawn draft and as such was not subject to a public hearing.

- Those entities that should have provided comments were unable to do so. The question is how much it is aligned with the Framework Law on Higher Education, as Minister Kazazović claims. The Management Board is given the possibility to practically dismiss both the rector and deans, which directly threatens the autonomy of these bodies. About 40 people participate in the election of the rector (the Senate, editor's note), and now 6 people from the Management Board could dismiss him - said Mašić.

He particularly addressed the position of SPUS, for which he stated that it is an extended arm of SDA policy, which has become blatantly evident during the time of Haris Zahiragić, who was rewarded with employment in the ZZO KS.

- We must draw attention to these matters. The KS Government should withdraw the text of the law, hold a public hearing, and take into account the views of all those who should be heard. If the Government persists, then representatives should not give confidence to the law, but instead create a law that will serve its purpose and higher education - said Mašić.

Slaviša Šućur, SDP BiH representative in the KS Assembly, said that two laws should be made: one on higher education that would establish rules according to which everyone should behave, and after that, adopt the Law on the University and regulate relations between the founder and UNSA in that law.

- The University must have independence in its operation. This proposal could not have appeared in this form. It is a matter of interference and increasing political influence on the work of the University. The story that UNSA should be an integral part of the treasury negates the possibility of it acting independently. There are mechanisms through which the Ministry and the Government can exercise oversight. UNSA should create its own treasury and operate on that principle - says Šućur.

He added that when the KS Government encounters a lack of support, it resorts to negotiations and compromises, which results in inconsistent solutions.

- All laws adopted in this way very quickly undergo amendments and supplements - says Šućur.

Mašić also revealed that SDP BiH is working on its own proposals for laws and will present the law on higher education and the law on the University to the public at the beginning of September.

- That law will in no way affect the autonomy of UNSA.