The Precarious Life of Students in Serbia

Who can afford education in Belgrade and how do students live? Students of the University of Belgrade answer these questions and present the obstacles they face.

Who can afford education in Belgrade and how do students live? Students of the University of Belgrade answer these questions and present the obstacles they face.

Narrow-mindedness of Dual Education

Draft Law on Dual Education faces criticism of professionals, trade unions and leftist organizations. This proposed regulation would in effect legalise child labour, make it extremely difficult for students of vocational schools to enroll in higher education institutions, cause additional deterioration of labour rights and generally worsen the position of workers in the labour market. Instead of being provided with quality education, students will be trained for the role of cheap and obedient labour force.

Fifty shades of exploitation

Internships, traineeships and other programmes for acquiring work experience are increasingly becoming a precondition to getting a labour contract. Even though interns are performing roles of workers, in most cases they are not paid for them nor is their employment guaranteed after the programme has ended.