Mjedenica Institute fights for dormitory and workshops since April: Hota-Muminović does not give consent even for a larger number of classes!

(Patria) - Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Nihad Uk announced this morning, stating "regarding the reports" that the Mjedenica dormitory is closing and that the residents are being thrown onto the street.

"I want to deny these claims. The residents of Mjedenica will continue to use the dormitory services and continue their education. The Ministry is simultaneously addressing this issue systemically in the best interest of the children," Uk stated.

The Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton did not comment on the explanation provided this morning by the Ministry of Education and Science, which explicitly states that neither the dormitory nor the workshops are prescribed by the Pedagogical Standards and Normatives. Likewise, the Ministry states that it is "working rapidly to create conditions for the operation of the mentioned dormitory, in order to enable students to continue staying in the dormitory from September of the new school year, until this issue is resolved systemically and in the best interest of the children."

Therefore, if Uk does not believe the "reports," he should at least believe the minister in his own government.

However, that is not the end of the problems for the Mjedenica Institute, and the Trade Union Branch of the Mjedenica Institute has informed the president of the Independent Trade Union of Primary Education and Training, Saudina Sivra, about all the challenges they have faced recently. We remind you that the Trade Union opposed the adoption of the Pedagogical Standards, and the extent to which the authorities protected themselves is shown by the ban on protests by educators on May 14. But on that day, the Trade Union held a press conference together with regional trade unions who provided full support to their Sarajevo colleagues in their struggle and condemned the authorities' repression.

According to a letter to which Patria had access, the Mjedenica Institute has been communicating with the Ministry since March of this year to resolve the issue of the dormitory and workshop for occupational therapy.

On July 19, the Ministry of Education and Science responded to the Mjedenica Institute, stating that it "is not able to issue consent for the operation of the dormitory/residence and workshops for occupational therapy, as they are not prescribed in the aforementioned Pedagogical Standards."

In the same letter, trade unionists write that on July 11, the Law on Education in Primary and Secondary Schools was published in the Official Gazette of Sarajevo Canton, which, according to Article 80, Paragraph 2, states that programs for the well-being of the Center's students (dormitory accommodation) can be implemented at the Center with the prior consent of the Ministry.

"On 07/22/2024, a request for consent was sent again to the Ministry of Education and Science of Sarajevo Canton, requesting consent, referring to the previously mentioned article of the Law on Education in Primary and Secondary Schools in Sarajevo Canton."

As they were told, at the beginning of the school year and during the school year, certain regulations will be adopted, including a unified program of educational work for all student dormitories, and regulations on the operation of student dormitories, i.e., conditions for admission of students, financing of accommodation and meals.

However, employees of the Public Institution Institute for Special Education and Upbringing of Children Mjedenica do not know how to plan the start of the new school year.

"According to the current situation, certain employees could be on the list of redundant staff, and all are long-term employees, two of whom are one year away from retirement."

As early as April 2, 2024, the Mjedenica Institute informed the Ministry about the number of planned classes for the 2024/2025 school year, which exceeds the maximum number of classes, and requested a positive opinion on the fulfillment of conditions for conducting the teaching process, and on May 10, it provided the Ministry with all the requested data regarding the number of children, classes, and groups.

"The Institute received a response that for primary education and upbringing of students with difficulties, a maximum of 18 classes is prescribed, and that we plan the number of classes for the 2024/2025 school year in accordance with the Pedagogical Standards, taking into account the optimal and maximum number of students per class. The Mjedenica Institute will not be able to re-engage the same number of teachers from the beginning of the new school year as was engaged in May of the current year," the letter sent to Sivra states.

The president of SSOOiKS, Saudin Sivro, stated that the Trade Union condemns the stepmotherly treatment of the employees and children of the Mjedenica Institute.

"We demand that the Ministry of Education and Science of Sarajevo Canton immediately issue consent for the operation of the dormitory and workshops for the 2024/2025 school year. We request that trade union representatives be involved in the creation of documents that involve the announced changes as systemic solutions, especially when it comes to inter-departmental cooperation.

The Trade Union is responsible for protecting the rights of employees and will do everything necessary to ensure that the employees of Mjedenica do not lose their jobs. The Trade Union's activities regarding the situation at the Mjedenica Institute will be announced in the near future. The Trade Union gives full support to the employees, parents, and their children, especially the school board and the director of the Mjedenica Institute, who are in a difficult situation, especially in the last six months," Sivro stated in his reaction.