Education Minister: Faculties Intend To Start this School Year on the Date of the Novi Sad Tragedy

Dejan Vuk Stankovic (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC)

The academic year 2025/26 at faculties in Serbia should begin on Nov. 1, the date suggested by the faculties to ensure it coincided with the anniversary of the collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad Train Station, which had killed 16 people, Education Minister Dejan Vuk Stankovic told TV Pink on Sept. 2. 

He also said this some would abuse this date to suggest new blockades, adding that the academic year had to start after completion of make-up sessions for the lessons missed during the last academic year, which, in line with the plans proposed by the faculties, should be done by Oct. 31.

“They are probably intending to connect the start of this academic year with the tragic event in Novi Sad for manipulative purposes. So, it should be expected that some of them, who seem to enjoy it, will be referring to freedom, justice, democracy, and academic integrity. I think that as part of their political campaign, they will propose further destruction of universities in Serbia, more precisely - blockades,” the education minister said.