National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia / Activities / Activity details
Tuesday, 7 April 2015
17th Sitting of the Committee on Education, Science, Technological Development and the Information Society
At the sitting held on 7 April, the members of the Committee on Education, Science, Technological Development and the Information Society reviewed the Information on the teachers’ strike.
The sitting was attended by Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development Dr Srdjan Verbic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Zeljko Ozegovic, representative of the Ministry of Finance Natasa Zavodja, as well as representatives of the four representative trade unions in the field of education in Serbia: Union of Trade Unions of Education Workers of Serbia, Trade Union of Serbian Education Workers, Branch Trade Union of Education Workers ”Independence” and Education Trade Union of Serbia.
The representatives of the Union of Trade Unions of Education Workers of Serbia Jasna Jankovic and Vladimir Adzic said that the teachers were on strike not only because of their financial straits, but also because of the working conditions of the teachers and students and the need to reform the education system. The introduction of pay grades is a way to solve the teachers’ financial problems because it would result in a just division of budgetary funds, said Jankovic and Adzic.
The representatives of the Trade Union of Serbian Education Workers Miodrag Sokic, Milorad Antic and Milan Trbovic stressed that the teachers’ strike is a big social remonstrance and that more budgetary funds should be allocated for education. They drew attention to the pitiful situation in elementary education and vocational high schools, saying that it was in everyone’s interest to come to a sustainable solution and end the strike.
The Committee members and MPs were also addressed by the representatives of the two trade unions which launched the strike, representative of the Branch Trade Union of Education Workers ”Independence” Ruzica Todic Brdaric and representative of the Education Trade Union of Serbia Radomir Sojanovic. They said that the signing of an agreement to end the strike with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and a special collective contract sets the grounds for a lasting solution and elimination of the problems of teachers in Serbia. The introduction of pay grades is a possible solution to the existing problems, as is launching negotiations with the Ministry by 1 June 2015 on assistance for education workers, which would improve their financial position.
Addressing the assembly, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development Dr Srdjan Verbic said that finding a lasting, systemic solution which would make it possible for the teachers to end the strike for good is a priority, rather than coming up with a temporary solution which will only postpone the strike. The introduction of pay grades is a systemic solution to the status of teachers, said Minister Verbic.
State Secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Zeljko Ozegovic and representative of the Ministry of Finance Natasa Zavodja spoke of the activities conducted within their respective scopes to find a systemic and sustainable solution for the status of teachers and end the strike.
In the ensuing debate, the Committee members and MPs stressed the need to find a solution to the problems plaguing the education system and its employees in Serbia. They also agreed that the strike should be ended so that the children might be able to adequately complete the school year.
The sitting was chaired by MA Aleksandra Jerkov, Committee Chairperson.
The representatives of the Union of Trade Unions of Education Workers of Serbia Jasna Jankovic and Vladimir Adzic said that the teachers were on strike not only because of their financial straits, but also because of the working conditions of the teachers and students and the need to reform the education system. The introduction of pay grades is a way to solve the teachers’ financial problems because it would result in a just division of budgetary funds, said Jankovic and Adzic.
The representatives of the Trade Union of Serbian Education Workers Miodrag Sokic, Milorad Antic and Milan Trbovic stressed that the teachers’ strike is a big social remonstrance and that more budgetary funds should be allocated for education. They drew attention to the pitiful situation in elementary education and vocational high schools, saying that it was in everyone’s interest to come to a sustainable solution and end the strike.
The Committee members and MPs were also addressed by the representatives of the two trade unions which launched the strike, representative of the Branch Trade Union of Education Workers ”Independence” Ruzica Todic Brdaric and representative of the Education Trade Union of Serbia Radomir Sojanovic. They said that the signing of an agreement to end the strike with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and a special collective contract sets the grounds for a lasting solution and elimination of the problems of teachers in Serbia. The introduction of pay grades is a possible solution to the existing problems, as is launching negotiations with the Ministry by 1 June 2015 on assistance for education workers, which would improve their financial position.
Addressing the assembly, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development Dr Srdjan Verbic said that finding a lasting, systemic solution which would make it possible for the teachers to end the strike for good is a priority, rather than coming up with a temporary solution which will only postpone the strike. The introduction of pay grades is a systemic solution to the status of teachers, said Minister Verbic.
State Secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Zeljko Ozegovic and representative of the Ministry of Finance Natasa Zavodja spoke of the activities conducted within their respective scopes to find a systemic and sustainable solution for the status of teachers and end the strike.
In the ensuing debate, the Committee members and MPs stressed the need to find a solution to the problems plaguing the education system and its employees in Serbia. They also agreed that the strike should be ended so that the children might be able to adequately complete the school year.
The sitting was chaired by MA Aleksandra Jerkov, Committee Chairperson.