Alek Kavcic Foundation Transfers RSD72 Million to Accounts of 5,000 Professors

Protest education workers (BETAPHOTO/DRAGAN GOJIC)

Professor Aleksandar Kavcic said on April 3 that the Alek Kavcic Foundation had raised RSD85 million in donations for education workers in several weeks after their salaries were lowered for the suspension of classes, as well as that RSD72 million had already been paid to the accounts of 5,000 teachers.

"Money is running out but this is just the first cycle of payments for the most endangered education workers, especially since higher education institutions have been targeted by this retaliation. I would say that around 20,000 people in the education sector have not received their salaries," Kavcic told the Vreme weekly. He added that it was important to stress that other employees in the sector - non-teaching staff such as janitors and other employees, were also not receiving their salaries.

"The Foundation did not choose the teachers who will receive the money, but the most at risk teachers applied through the IT solidarity network, they need this money the most, while the circle will be further expanded," Kavcic said.

The teachers' struggle and rebellion, he said, do not depend on the Foundation's donations, or anyone else, but those who feel the fight and rebellion. "I believe that education workers in elementary schools will opt for legally allowed 30 minute strikes in the period to come, and that the fight in high schools in Serbia will continue. Teachers are people who are supposed to have integrity and their messages must not depend on finances," Kavcic said.