How the government "disciplined" educators - more than 100 school employees lost their jobs

Tatjana Vasovic Novosel was the principal of the "Banovic Strahinja" elementary school in Banovo Brdo until the end of the previous school year. Then she was dismissed.

"They were obviously angry that I supported the student protests and stood by the collective that decided to suspend work, and then I was dismissed in early July, and I am the first principal in Belgrade to be dismissed," said Vasovic Novosel.

The first, but not the only, in Belgrade and Serbia. The Ministry of Education blacklisted collectives or directors who supported decisions made by vote and related to the strike of teachers.

How the government "disciplined" educators - more than 100 school employees lost their jobs, more than 110 disciplinary proceedings, 25 school directors dismissed, 75 school directors resigned, criminal charges and hearings of the rectors and vice-rectors.

The retaliation against teachers began before the start of the new school year, and some teachers received information that their contracts had not been extended on the eve of September 1. The Minister of Education has a different view on everything.

"There are a total of 1,860 primary and secondary schools in Serbia, as many as their principals. Four percent of principals have resigned, and only 1.3 percent have been dismissed. Therefore, the Ministry of Education has not taken any mass repressive steps," said Education Minister Dejan Vuk Stankovic.

The greatest pressure in schools was exerted through disciplinary procedures. The procedures were most often related to the suspension of classes and support for student protests, and in many cases were initiated quickly and with serious suspicions of violations of legal procedures.

The dismissed principal from the beginning of the story has returned to teaching and is now working as a teacher. She is waiting for better times.

"We all experienced it, somewhere, actually, as a reward and great pride that they were the ones who dismissed us because it means that we were on the right side, fighting for the reputation and dignity of educators," said Vasovic Novosel.

They continue their defense with appeals they filed with the Administrative Court because, they believe, the dismissals were unfounded.