Minister of Science and Education Radovan Fuchs said on Tuesday that, due to the strike of three education unions, the school year will be extended as long as necessary and where necessary.
"The school year will end with the planned number of working days, and if necessary, for those who cannot do so, school will be extended as long as necessary," the minister told reporters after opening the renovated buildings of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture.
The Independent Union of Secondary School Employees, the Independent Union of Science and Higher Education, and the Preporod union have organized several one-day strikes in schools and faculties across the country in recent months, followed by a protest on Zagreb's Ban Jelačić Square. They are demanding from the government, among other things, a 10 percent increase in the base and the adjustment of coefficients that they consider unfair.
Fuchs said that the strikes did not make sense because the salaries of teachers in schools and colleges had already been increased in the last few years.
"We maintain our position that a day on strike will not be paid, and a strike in June would have repercussions not only on salaries in July, but also on salaries in August," he said.
Regarding the state graduation exam, the National Center for External Evaluation of Education will take all steps to ensure that it is completed on time and that enrollment in studies takes place according to plan, Fuchs added.
When it comes to secondary school enrollment, the minister pointed out that 70 percent of primary school students enroll in vocational schools, which is the highest percentage in Europe.
"We have given approval for the opening of grammar school classes in some vocational schools. Perhaps some of the new vocational occupations are attractive and will attract the attention of students and parents, but I hope that we will not go above the usual percentage of enrollment in vocational schools," said the relevant minister.
Photo: HINA/Mario Strmotić
