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Professor with eight years to retirement jobless at Vranje gymnasium: 'No concrete reason given, just told classes were
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ธ Serbia /Culture & Society

Professor with eight years to retirement jobless at Vranje gymnasium: 'No concrete reason given, just told classes were taken'

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • A professor with eight years until retirement lost her job at a Vranje gymnasium after a decade of employment.
  • The professor claims she was told her classes were given to another colleague without a clear reason.
  • Local media and public speculate the dismissal is politically motivated, linked to recent changes in school leadership and party influence.

Nela Dimitrijeviฤ‡, a professor with only eight years left until retirement and eligible for a 30-year service award, finds herself unemployed after a decade at the Vranje gymnasium. She stated that she was simply told her classes were taken by another colleague, who she believes is not even from Vranje.

I am someone who is eight years away from retirement, who should receive a jubilee award for 30 years of work this year, and I am on the unemployment register.

โ€” Nela Dimitrijeviฤ‡The professor describes her current employment status.

The situation has caused significant public reaction in Vranje. Dimitrijeviฤ‡'s dismissal follows the recent removal of the long-serving director, Suzana Miลกiฤ‡ Stankoviฤ‡, at the beginning of the year. The gymnasium was notably the only school in Vranje that participated in student protests earlier this year.

There wasn't any concrete reason, I was simply told that the classes were taken. On Monday, I was unpleasantly surprised to find that those classes were given to another colleague, who doesn't even seem to be from Vranje.

โ€” Nela Dimitrijeviฤ‡The professor explains how she learned about losing her job.

Journalist Mihajlo Stojkoviฤ‡ suggests that Dimitrijeviฤ‡'s dismissal is being interpreted by the public as a political punishment. While the former director denies this, she explained that Dimitrijeviฤ‡ did not sign a new contract as she was on vacation. The current acting director, Maja Ristiฤ‡, is reportedly affiliated with the ruling SNS party, and Stojkoviฤ‡ points out the school's historical ties to the SPS party, suggesting political maneuvering influences decisions.

The public in Vranje says this is a punishment for Nela Dimitrijeviฤ‡.

โ€” Mihajlo Stojkoviฤ‡A journalist comments on the public's interpretation of the professor's dismissal.

Colleagues describe Dimitrijeviฤ‡ as an outstanding educator whose students won national awards. She herself believes her dismissal is due to not having the "right party card." Dimitrijeviฤ‡ hopes for a change after the elections, expressing a desire to return to teaching. The upcoming September 1st school year will reveal whether she returns to her post or remains unemployed, a situation many believe is tied to political shifts in the city.

But somehow, all of that stopped being important, because I obviously don't have the appropriate party card. I will return. In the hope that everything will change, after the elections.

โ€” Nela Dimitrijeviฤ‡The professor expresses her belief that political affiliation is the reason for her dismissal and her hope for the future.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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