Ana Brnabic (BETAPHOTO/Serbian Parliament /Pedja Vuckovic)
Serbian Parliament speaker Ana Brnabic on Jan. 21 said that university autonomy was “absolutely sacred” to the incumbent government, while adding that university student blockades were unlawful and would lead to serious consequences.
Speaking at the Parliament’s Committee of Education, Brnabic said that education could not be a subject of political conflicts, describing it as a matter beyond politics.
“We have no right nor do we intend to interfere into the university autonomy. Students have the right and it is good to hear them express their views or push for some topics for consideration, it is all natural and normal in a democratic society, but our freedoms and rights should not be endangering anyone. I consider blockades to be unlawful,” Brnabic said.
Students, according to her, will not be able to complete this school year in time, with some of them will be missing “the life opportunity” to pursue master’s or doctorate degrees at prestigious universities abroad.
Brnabic argues that if blockades of educational institutions continue, more than 102,000 students will lose their budget-financed scholarships, while some 17,000 will lose their accommodation in dorms due to “some plenum,” an informal body where students get to make decisions in a democratic way regarding blockades of their respective faculties and protest activities.
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