Serbian students rally against political interference in education

Several thousand activists from across Serbia joined a protest organized by students of the State University of Novi Pazar (DUNP).

Serbian students are protesting against political interference in higher education following the collapse of a canopy in Novi Sad, an incident that claimed the lives of 16 people, CE Report quotes MIA.

The protesters are demanding accountability for the tragedy, arguing that corruption and poor-quality construction work led to the disaster.

Protest in Novi Pazar was organized after the university administration revoked the full-time student status of around 200 students and dismissed 30 professors who supported the student movement. Demonstrators are calling for the resignation of the university’s governing board and the appointment of a new rector.

Earlier, students from Novi Pazar marched on foot for 16 days and arrived in Novi Sad on November 1, the anniversary of the tragedy, where a mass gathering was held to honor the victims.

The students accuse Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of fostering corruption, undermining public services, promoting nepotism, and restricting media freedom.

President Vučić, for his part, stated that the protest in Novi Pazar attracted a small number of participants and described it as “meaningless.”

As reported by CE Report, Croatia condemns Serbia’s “verbal aggression” over territorial remarks.

фото: МИА архива