Municipal Chief Hadžibajrić signs scholarship contracts for 97 pupils and students

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Pupils and students of the Stari Grad Sarajevo municipality, 97 of them, signed scholarship contracts for the school/academic year 2019/2020 today with municipal chief Mr. Ibrahim Hadžibajrić. The scholarships were awarded today to exceptionally gifted pupils and students, 92 of them, and five pupils in deficit occupations: butcher, dry cleaner, electrical power engineer, gas plumber, and tailor. Although the scholarships are also intended for pupils learning old, traditional crafts, unfortunately there was no response this year either.

This local community pays significant attention to the education of young people and ensuring quality conditions for their work in educational institutions. This is supported by the fact that the amount of funds for scholarships for pupils and students has increased several times over the last ten, or eleven years. As Chief Hadžibajrić emphasised, at the beginning of his first term, the annual amount for scholarships was around 70,000 KM, and today it is between 300,000 and 400,000 KM annually.

"The future lies in education. That is why we try to help our pupils and students during their schooling. We know how much money is needed for education, so we hope we can at least slightly ease the burden on our children, as well as their parents. We need educated people, but also craftsmen, masters. Without them, there is no future either in Sarajevo or in BiH," Hadžibajrić stated. Incidentally, this Municipality also provides scholarships to numerous children from veteran families, and scholarships for pupils who are successful athletes are also in preparation. In addition, among the scholarship recipients of the Stari Grad Municipality is the child of the murdered police officer Davor Vujinović, who was killed together with his colleague Adis Šehović in October 2018, while performing regular police activities in the Alipašino Polje neighbourhood.

"I promised that we would provide a scholarship for Davor's daughter until the end of her schooling. She is now in the fifth grade, and that is the least we can do," said Hadžibajrić.

One of the Municipality's scholarship recipients is Ena Muhić, a fourth-year student in the first cycle of studies at the Faculty of Law, with an average grade of 9.5. This is her fourth year as a scholarship recipient of the Stari Grad Municipality.

"Every support is valuable and precious when invested in knowledge, education, and us young people, and I am convinced that this scholarship will serve each of us as motivation to achieve even better results in the future," said Ena. She stated that success follows the persistent, diligent, and determined, and that the recognition and reward of that success is something every scholarship recipient should be proud of.

Timur Vilić, a student at the Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo and recipient of the 'Silver Badge' award, also received a scholarship. He expressed gratitude to the Stari Grad Municipality and Chief Hadžibajrić for their years-long and constant support for young people at all levels of education, from primary to university.

"In this rather bad political situation of today, caused by predictions of a gloomy future and the worsening of our prospects for survival, it is easy to get lost in negative thoughts. But unlike those who say this generation is lazy and uninterested, detached from reality, lost in the digital world of social media, I believe young people are very simple. We need a little support and trust, and we will take care of the rest," Timur said.

Rijad Durak is a third-grade pupil at the Electrical Engineering School for Power Engineering. He also thanked the Municipality for the scholarship and said it is a great motivation for him to be even better in the future.

"My trade is electrical power engineer, and I plan to do this job in BiH, so we'll see what the future brings me further," said Rijad.

Fatih Žgalj is a second-grade pupil at the First Bosniak Gymnasium in Sarajevo. "I received the scholarship based on excellent school performance and competitions, mostly in physics. I am very grateful to the Municipality because it has been there for me from the very beginning of my education. This financial help means a lot, but also knowing that my success, work, and effort are appreciated," were Fatih's words.

Let us remind you, the Stari Grad Municipality, through its Department for Education, Culture, and Sports, announces a public call every year for awarding scholarships to gifted pupils and students, and for the past four years also for scholarships for pupils in deficit and traditional crafts. The total amount to be distributed through these scholarships to pupils and students is 85,000 KM.