Student protests in front of the Sarajevo Canton Government: Better living conditions and boiler room renovation demanded

(Patria) - The Association of Students of the Sarajevo Student Center, together with the Student Parliament of the University of Sarajevo and the trade union of employees of the Public Institution Student Center, will hold peaceful protests today in front of the Sarajevo Canton Government building due to serious safety deficiencies in the Bjelave student dormitory, which culminated in a gas leak in the boiler room, causing the heating to be shut off.

Although the malfunction has been repaired and heating and hot water have been restored, the boiler room must be replaced. Minister of Science, Higher Education and Youth of Sarajevo Canton Dušanka Bošković stated that she is requesting 1.5 million BAM from the Sarajevo Canton Government for the renovation of the boiler room and hopes that this request will be approved. An additional problem is the selection of the management of the Student Center, as well as the budget funds they receive, which are insufficient for normal functioning.

The negligent attitude towards student dormitories has persisted for years. The conditions in which students live are not worthy of the 21st century nor of the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. How can we expect to attract new students at all when they are offered inhumane living conditions?

"We invite all students, parents, citizens, organizations, media, and everyone who supports the safety and rights of young people to join us. This concerns all of us – the safety of all of us must not be a topic that is silenced. Your support is crucial. Together, we can demand change," the call for protests states.

Students have received great support in their fight for their rights, and besides safety as the primary condition, students are also demanding an improvement in meals in the dormitories. The meals served are often insufficient, forcing them to supplement their diet at bakeries.

Support for students housed in the dormitories of the Sarajevo Student Center was also given by the Trade Union of the University of Sarajevo.

"The problems that students are pointing out — a faulty boiler room, gas leakage, lack of heating and hot water, and years of neglect of infrastructure in student dormitories — represent a serious risk to the safety and health of both students and workers of the Student Center. This is not a matter of comfort, but of basic safety and dignity for young people who study, work, and live in these dormitories. As an academic community, we have an obligation to stand by them when they demand what is rightfully theirs: safe living conditions, transparent management, and responsible action by the competent institutions.

The UNSA Trade Union calls on the Sarajevo Canton Government to urgently: ensure the renovation of the boiler room and remove all safety risks, provide a permanent solution for heating and hot water, and initiate a comprehensive renovation of the student dormitory infrastructure.

The students' demands are justified, reasonable, and in the interest of the entire university community. The UNSA Trade Union will continue to actively monitor the situation and provide full support in defending the rights of students and workers," the statement said.