Jovina Gymnasium Parents and Teachers Seek Director's Dismissal; Minister's Response Vague

Parents and teachers from the esteemed Jovina Gymnasium in Novi Sad have traveled to Belgrade, seeking a meeting with Education Minister Dejan Vuk Stanković to discuss their demand for the dismissal of director Radivoj Stojković. However, their attempts to meet with the minister have been unsuccessful, with the minister reportedly communicating via email that he could not receive them.

According to Bojana, the mother of one of the students, the group had hoped for progress after a meeting the previous Thursday. "We are ready to come on Monday and any other day if necessary," she stated, expressing confusion over the minister's absence. The minister's office reportedly informed the parents' council president about a potential future meeting time.

Bojana further revealed that Minister Stanković had alluded to reasons why Stojković had not yet been removed. "We have already submitted the initiative to the minister via email to dismiss director Radivoj Stojković, where all the positions and articles of the law that he violated are detailed," she explained. She added that the minister seemed to suggest that "other structures and institutions in the state are also involved in this case, and that he is waiting for a green light from the other side to act."

Adding to the escalating tensions, students at the gymnasium have declared a full boycott of classes. They stated they will not allow their teachers to be oppressed and dishonored by false accusations and baseless suspensions, which they describe as "nothing more than the whim of a pathetic man." The gymnasium has been operating outside its main building since the start of the school year, with classes held in three different locations, a situation opposed by parents and teachers. Director Stojković has suspended five professors in recent weeks, prompting around 30 other professors to take sick leave in solidarity, a move the director also reportedly reacted to by withholding their pay.

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neće dozvoliti da njihovi profesori budu ugnjetavani i obeščašćivani lažnim optužbama i neosnovanim suspenzijama, koje "nisu ništa drugo nego hir jednog jadnog čoveka".