Announcement for Day of Students – April 4th
Student activism as kind of youth activism is extraordinarily important for raising the awareness of youngsters and pointing out to problems surrounding them, and for encouraging creativity and innovativeness in ideas which implementation would improve society. Aim of the Student Parliament of the University of Montenegro is to enlighten the problems of students, contribute to position of students in Montenegrin society and point to directions of taking actions for decision-makers.
Students Day, April 4th, is celebrated in Montenegro each year, in memory of victim Žarko Marinović, who gave his life for fighting for his, students, rights. This date, not only does it remind on this heroic act, but also it obliges all progressive points of the society, to endure in protecting their rights and defending most valuable aspects of the society. Quality education system is prerequisite for development of any other social segment. Hyper production of staff, high unemployment rate of graduated higher education students and other current problems that have become constant, have been yearning to be solved for a long time.
For a long string of years, we insist on better quality of studies, higher knowledge of graduates, harmonization with European higher education market, as well as with the labor market.
Prior especially because, a few years back, our higher education system is not accorded with the labor market, i.e. its needs and requirements, which is consequential for generations of students. In this part, as only solution we see an entire and complete alteration of the Higher Education Law, in a way to provide a full harmonization between what is expected of us after graduation and qualifications and competences acquired.
Since in our society a high unemployment prevails, it present a bigger problem for our society and graduated high schoolers. There is staff produced who is not able to find adequate position in profession to a great extent.
There is also space for improvement in the field of infrastructure. Especially, attention should be paid to part of investment-developmental policy of the University of Montenegro for capital investments, as continuation of capital investments from previous years. Among infrastructure problems, there are reconstruction of the building of technical faculties, construction of gym of the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education in Niksic, construction of complex of faculties of arts in Cetinje, reconstruction of boiler room, reconstruction and investment works in cabinets, classrooms, and amphitheaters of the Faculty of Philosophy and Philology in Niksic.
Also, it is necessary to provide better conditions for beneficiaries of the student dome, hence accelerating process of constructing the new ones. The lack of heating and warm water is intolerable since it disturbs life and functioning of students in student domes in 21st century in a country that strives European standards and European community.
Finally, we continue on insisting on reforming Professional Training Program, which falls on deaf ears by authorities.
With the aim of clearer and more transparent pointing out to above mentioned problems, and finding their solution, the Student Parliament of the University of Montenegro will in the forthcoming period organize a row of public tribunes, roundtables, panel discussion etc.
Taking steps walked by Žarko Marinović, as future academic citizens, we nourish the need for acquiring knowledge and training, with aim for society to make a progress where we will present initiators of reforms for wellbeing of all of us. Better tomorrow is not achievable without progressive and proactive student population ready to deal with challenges of modern society. We have a joint mission ahead to make student population a category of population whose voice is heard and whose interest is respected. Therefore, we encourage inclusion of students and the young in social processes and social life, and reaching these goals require support of entire society, i.e. all structures.
In the light of it, we require that student population is focus of authorities, on Day of Students and during entire year as well.
We congratulate all Montenegrin students April 4th – Day of Students, wishing us to improve status of students and quality education with youth energy, joint work and inventiveness.
President of SPUMNE
Andrej Vukčević