Representatives express remarks on the education sector in KS, minister tells them they are ignorant and uninformed

(Patria) - At today's continuation of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly session, the Minister of Education and Upbringing Naida Hota-Muminović presented information on the financial operations of public institutions in the field of preschool, primary, and secondary education for 2023.

Representative Marijela Hašimbegović (DF) pointed out the scandalous number of public comments on the work of this ministry.

"All we have from the Ministry of Education and Upbringing is constant repressive control and corruption in every sense. Whether it's staffing, developing standards, public procurement, work planning, and everything except the interest and well-being of the child, which this ministry often invokes," she said.

She also stated that educators have been turned into clerks, and that they are subjected to mobbing in all directions.

"Standards are adopted without consultation with educators and parents. I especially highlight the bylaws concerning educational and disciplinary measures, as well as the records of unacceptable forms of behavior. Then the bylaw on the EMIS system, which is completely non-transparent and puts public kindergartens in a subordinate position compared to private ones. We do not have available information on available places for enrollment in kindergartens," she stated.

She added that the minister is protecting principals who have long met the conditions for dismissal.

"She protects staff who are related to those who commit peer violence in schools. In this way, you have enabled the victim to suffer, and the perpetrators have not been adequately punished. Examples include the Bosniak Gymnasium, the school in Šip... Staffing is politically accessible. There are numerous examples of abuse by principals in schools who prefer certain candidates even though they are ranked lower during the competition procedure, and they will do everything to make higher-ranked candidates withdraw. There are numerous examples of engaging associates through service contracts for jobs that are part of the systematized job descriptions, which for this year amount to 73,250 KM," said Hašimbegović.

The representative also stated that such spending of budget funds is not in accordance with the law, and that it is an abuse of position by the minister.

Mahir Dević (SDA) said during the discussion that the situation in education has never been worse.

"That is the public perception, just as the public perception is that something has improved in the public transport sector in Sarajevo," he said.

Damir Marjanović (ZNG) recalled the agreement on a thematic session on education reform.

"I will praise the amount of money invested, and a very specific question I will ask is what we have implemented from these recommendations and what we have learned from the real results of the TIMSS testing," he said, and stated that he will insist on the date of the thematic session.

After the discussions, the Speaker of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, Elvedin Okerić, gave the floor to Minister Hota-Muminović.

In her address, she called the representatives uninformed, said they knew nothing about education, and that she was not in favor of a thematic session on education but on the rule of law.

"With due respect, not everyone can talk about education. By doing so, you only make the honorable and difficult work of educators harder. Some of you understand architecture or telecommunications, some pharmacy, but you really understand little about education. Education is a very serious profession, and you show that scarce knowledge, with brilliant moments that sometimes happen, about education, even when you prepare and when you read. You have prepared, you are reading, and you are using the phrase 'punishing students'. That term is not used at all," said Hota-Muminović.

She also stated that she regretted that the representatives have parliamentary immunity and can state falsehoods without any responsibility, responding to representative Hašimbegović.

Mahir Dević (SDA) reacted and requested a procedural intervention.

"The minister is giving us educational measures," said Dević, but Okerić took away his word and gave the floor back to the minister.

The minister also told Dević that he did not have to worry about the public's perception of her because he is an opposition representative.