Minister of Education: University is No Place for Politics, Ideological Activities

University of Belgrade (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

Minister of Education Slavica Djukic Dejanovic said on Dec. 9 that there’s no room for politics and ideological activities at universities.

The minister noted that the number of students blocking faculties was not large, adding that those who, as she put it, lacked arguments, were quite vocal, raising demands that were not focused on student issues, but had political undertones.

“They are not only politically motivated, but the students are demanding that the system’s institutions do their job – the same institutions that are already doing it. The only demand related to material costs and a 20% increase has long been fulfilled,” Djukic Dejanovic said in an interview with the NewsMax Balkans television.

The minister expected the academic community, which always highlighted its autonomy, to  understand its duties and, as she stated, do what universities exist for.

“I expect that within the academic community, the unsettled parts of both the student and teaching populations will stabilize. A young person, a student, has the right to their beliefs and convictions, but the university should not be a place for such actions,” the minister said.