Minister explained what will happen to the teaching and how much salary teachers who didn't work will receive

She also stated that educators will be paid as much as they worked and that this will already be seen in the February salary, the payment of which begins today.

The minister told RTS that the relevant ministry already receives a plan for teaching compensation from the schools.

"We can still do all that if we start with the compensations in the coming days. There is still a possibility that through summarizing the material, through the compensation plan that the minister should bring, and we already get those compensation plans from the schools, so that the school year ends and that the students of the eighth grade of elementary school, and elementary school is compulsory, have a small graduation, to organize a trial exam of the small graduation as well as the final one," said Djukić Dejanović.

The minister emphasized that there is no longer a reason for a strike by educators, adding that the representative trade unions called on employees to work for 45 minutes and stated that even those who worked for 30 minutes did not create a discontinuity in knowledge and educational messages addressed to children.

She invited everyone, including teachers and parents and children, as well as the media, to contribute to this.

"Children who don't go to school are really damaged, and it's not just about the lack of knowledge and skills they should have acquired, there are also those social contacts that children should have while they are at school. Finally, we must not forget the concern of parents, which is at an incomparably higher level when they do not know where their child is, because the child is not at school when he should be. The organization of family life is also disrupted," she said.

The minister also said that she hopes that after this fourth condition of the students' demand, which should be adopted today, the protest will formally end, because as she added, the moment when the amendments are voted on, the state has done everything possible.

According to Djukić Dejanović, the concept of suspension does not exist in our legislation as a term and those professions that society cannot live without, such as health and education, do not have the right to complete suspension.

"A strike is defined by law and it is known that it is 20 hours of work per week, and classes can last at least 30 minutes. The strike must be announced in advance in accordance with what was done and financial compensation should follow those who are on strike," she explained.

Lower salaries for those who did not work

Djukić Dejanović stated that in such current circumstances, sacking people is inappropriate and the state has resorted to another "easier" measure in accordance with the law, which is that everyone should be paid according to their work.

"A teacher with 20 years of service who worked for February will receive about 111,200 dinars, in two parts on the 6th and 21st of February. The one who went on strike in accordance with the law, that is, worked for 30 minutes, will receive about 88,000 dinars, while the person who did not show up at school will receive about 16,300 dinars. Effective work is paid, and we hope to start as soon as possible with compensations, and compensations are also paid," said Djukić Dejanović.

She also said that the Serbian Parliament is expected to vote today on the law on higher education, which will enter into force as soon as it is published in the "Official Gazette".

"It was important that in the agreements with the representatives of the academic community, in relation to the demands of the students, we do a great job, it concerns the reduction of tuition fees of those students who are self-financing, it concerns the material status of institutions of higher education, because the state assumes all obligations related to material costs - everything that is needed to perform work and work in institutions of higher education," said Djukić Dejanović.

According to her, the amendments to the law on higher education concern the financial status of employees, which will be equalized in terms of their bases with those of educators up to university education, in primary and secondary schools.

"Many provisions have been amended, management rights have been changed, and the percentage of faculty councils, i.e. employees at faculties and universities, has increased in relation to the number of state representatives, and now 60 percent are employed by universities, 25 percent refer to state representatives and 15 percent are students," she explained.

Minister of Education pointed out that it is even a little bit more than what was requested.

She also concluded that dialogue is key to solving open issues and said that her doors and those of all her associates are open to all discussions.