Škrijelj: Medical Faculty must elect a new dean

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – The academic community, through the Senate of the University of Sarajevo, will once again address the issue of amendments to the Law on Higher Education of KS, which has been in effect for almost two years, said UNSA Rector Rifat Škrijelj at today's press conference.

When asked what is happening with the UNSA Medical Faculty after the KS Assembly adopted the Decision on the authentic interpretation of Article 138 of the Law on Higher Education, Škrijelj stated that all doubts regarding the election of the head of the Medical Faculty in Sarajevo have been removed.

“In the meantime, this Decision has been published in the Official Gazette, and UNSA and I, as rector, will once again warn the Medical Faculty that they are obliged to urgently implement the Law on Higher Education and the Statute of UNSA. This means electing an acting dean of the Medical Faculty, requesting registration in the register of acting deans of the Medical Faculty and removal from the register of all persons who do not have an official position in accordance with the Law and the Statute, and making a decision to call for applications for the election of the dean of the Medical Faculty for the next mandate period. It is as clear as day,” said Rector Škrijelj.

The authentic interpretation, which has the force of law from the moment it is adopted, must be implemented, the rector emphasized, adding that he will ask the Council of the Medical Faculty to implement the Law and the Statute of UNSA.

When asked what would happen if they did not do so, Rector Škrijelj said that they could have done it before but did not.

“This is a significant faculty that I take very seriously, and I expect them to respect the Law and the Statute for the future of that faculty, its students, and this country. If they do not, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of KS is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Law at UNSA and its organizational units, and let the founder decide further,” said Škrijelj.

Semra Čavaljuga, who was suspended and dismissed from the position of dean, only to be re-elected as dean by the Council of the Medical Faculty, attended the press conference. The authentic interpretation of Article 138 of the Law established that Čavaljuga could not be elected dean because she was dismissed from her duties. The Medical Faculty announced that they would file an appeal, i.e., request an assessment of the constitutionality of the authentic interpretation of Article 138 adopted by the KS Assembly.