Serbian schools to close early for winter break amid anti-corruption protests

BELGRADE: Schools across Serbia will close for the winter holidays a week earlier than planned this year as the government of the nationalist president, Aleksandar Vu?i?, seeks to stop anti-corruption protests that have gripped universities from spreading to the secondary education sector.

The education minister, Slavica ?uki? Dejanovi?, announced on Sunday that primary and secondary schools across the country would close from Tuesday, rather than Monday 30 December, citing concerns over the safety and quality of children’s education amid the “stop, Serbia” protests.

The majority of Serbia’s population are members of the Orthodox church, which follows the Julian calendar, and Christmas is officially celebrated on 7 January rather than on 24 or 25 December.

Earlier on Friday, teachers from four education unions announced they would go on strike in solidarity with students who had taken to the streets after a deadly canopy collapse last month.

A rally at Belgrade’s Slavija Square on Sunday afternoon drew tens of thousands of protesters, involving not just students and academic staff but also agricultural workers and prominent film and theatre actors.