Students and parents gathered near the school: Either an urgent reaction from authorities or we will tear down the fences

SARAJevo, (Patria) - At the site where an 11-year-old boy tragically died after being hit by a truck on his way home from Primary School "Aleksa Šantić" last night, parents and students, as well as numerous citizens, gathered this evening to once again express their protest due to the inadequate access to the school. 

Children have to go to school every day through a narrow street without a sidewalk, which is also used by motor vehicles, including the truck that was fatal for the boy who died.

This is at the intersection with Ramiza Salčina street, which is very busy, and despite speed bumps, cars are moving at high speed. The lighting in this part of the street is also poor, as is the narrow road leading to the school.

Due to the fences erected around houses along the narrow road, children are forced to use the road without any safety. 

The gathered citizens are demanding urgent action so that such a tragedy, witnessed by students returning from classes, never happens again.   

The school principal, Rasija Ibrahimović, said that today was a sad day at the school, but that the teachers tried to comfort the students. She stated that she would ask the authorities to resolve the traffic issue.

The gathering, attended by a large number of citizens, including parents of children attending this primary school, council members of Novi Grad municipality, several ministers in the Government of Sarajevo Canton, and a representative of the Novi Grad Municipality, heard from the Parents' Council.

"This place is unlit, the street is busy, cars are driving at high speed. The school is old, houses were built unplanned, the street is narrow, and when a car passes, there is nowhere for the children to move aside," said the Parents' Council.

The Parents' Council requested police patrols to be present when children go to and return from school. They asked for the area to be tidied up, bushes removed, and the access road widened.

"Nothing can bring the child back, but we implore that everything be done so that this never happens to anyone again." 

Outraged parents demanded the municipal inspection to investigate all permits for fence installations. 

"Either they widen the street, or we will tear down the fences," they warned.

Many parents stated that they would boycott classes until the problem is resolved. They had been warning about this problem for years, and now a child's life has been lost.