Government orders early winter break for schools

The protests were initiated by university students who took over their colleges to demand accountability for the victims of collapsed canopy roof at Novi Sad Railway Station on November 1. Their demands were expanded to include accountability for the men who assaulted them during their protests as well as other things.

The protests were joined by high school seniors who took over schools in support of the ongoing protests and stood silent for the 15 Minutes of Silence in memory of the 15 victims of the railway station tragedy. School winter break was supposed to start right after the New Year but will start on December 24 and end on January 20 as confirmed by Education Minister Slavica Djukic Dejanovic.

Opposition officials and analysts see this as another attempt by the authorities to lessen the effects of the protests and win students to their side. Earlier, President Aleksandar Vucic and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali said that deposits on mortgages would be lowered drastically for young people.

Seniors at one Belgrade high school said that they would continue going to their school as part of the ongoing protest.