Third-grade classes dissolved at Belgrade primary school as parents demand review of procedure

Parents at Belgrade’s Starina Novak Primary School returned from the summer break to find that some third-grade classes had been dissolved and their children reassigned.

A mother of one pupil said the decision came without warning. Parents saw the new class lists on August 31 and discovered that their children had been placed in different classes with new teachers.

After pressing the school for an explanation, parents were told that the number of classes had to fall from five to four. They were later told the change was intended to distribute the disruption evenly among the children rather than affect only certain pupils or classes.

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We were told by the school, after insisting, that the number of classes had to be reduced from five to four. When we continued to ask questions, they explained that the aim was to expose all the children equally to the change, rather than only certain children and certain classes.

The mother said parents were preparing a formal request asking the school to explain the procedure and clarify whether psychological professionals had been involved. She criticized the way the change had been handled, saying it showed little consideration for children, families or teachers, who also had emotional ties to their pupils and classes.

She added that the number of classes was reduced because the school had fewer students. N1 said it sent questions to Starina Novak Primary School but had not received answers by the time of publication.

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This was done with great disregard for our needs. There was no tact or feeling for the children and families, but also for the teachers, who have an emotional investment in every child and in all those classes.