Muratović: BiH citizens save 9 billion KM, if we had the knowledge that money would be in factories

The number of graduated students in 2014 in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is 1,308 students lower compared to the previous year, which is frightening, assessed Professor Hasan Muratović, former rector of the University of Sarajevo and professor at the Faculty of Economics, in an interview for the Patria news agency.

Professor Muratović warns that, although it seems the country has an excessive number of people with completed higher education who cannot find a job, the real truth is that very few people study in BiH, only 20 to 30%, which, compared to some developed countries where up to 80% of students go on to higher education after secondary school, is devastating for the future of BiH.

According to data from the Federal Institute for Statistics, in 2014, 12,183 students graduated, which is 9.65% or 1,308 students fewer compared to 2013.

Professor Muratović says the state should provide free and quality study for everyone who wants it. Because, he is convinced, only when generations of young and educated people mature will development begin in the country.

- The problem in BiH, when it comes to higher education, is represented by private faculties. They take money from students and give them diplomas that are not justified by quality knowledge. The state must engage and solve this problem. Public universities must be free for all, they must have quality programs, they must take over students from private faculties that do not offer sufficiently good education programs – said Muratović.

This expert warns that the situation with education in BiH is best described by the fact that citizens have nine billion KM in savings in banks. If they had knowledge, says Muratović, that money would be invested in businesses.

He adds that today the world's largest economy, the USA, is developed only because they have two things: citizens who respect the law and the fact that the state invests a lot in education. Company Apple, Muratović reminds, earned in half a year as much as the entire Russia. They could achieve this, he says, only because they invest a lot in education, Patria writes.