At the sitting held on 18 September 2023, the Committee on Education, Science, Technological Development and the Information Society considered, in principle, the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Primary Education and Upbringing, Bill amending and modifying the Law on Secondary Education and Upbringing, Bill amending and modifying the Law on Textbooks, Bill amending and modifying the Law on the Fundamentals of the Education System, Bill on the Confirmation of the International Agreement between the European Union, of the one part, and the Republic of Serbia, of the other part, on the participation of the Republic of Serbia in the Union Programme Digital Europe (2021-2027), as well as the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation Activity Information for the period April – June 2023.
Bills concerning education were presented on behalf of the Ministry of Education by the Minister Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic Dejanovic. The main changes to said laws concern the deadlines for the final exam for students completing three-year secondary education, graduation exam for students completing four-year secondary education, final exam for secondary vocational education and professional, artistic and general graduation, introduction of a national reader as a mandatory teaching tool for all students of primary and secondary education who attend classes in the Serbian language, expelling a student when educational and disciplinary proceedings are initiated against him and within 7 days, in accordance with the law, enrolling them in another secondary school, introducing more effective solutions related to reducing and eliminating violence in educational facilities and related provisions concerning students’ behaviour and related numerical mark awarded starting with fifth grade instead of the sixth as was previously the case and including said mark in the grade point average starting with fifth grade instead of the sixth as was previously the case.
The Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation Activity Information for the period April – June 2023 was presented by Minister Jelena Begovic on behalf of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation. She said that the reporting period was marked by two events, the exhibition "Play for Humanity! Science for all" and the trial run of the eNauka portal. The Minister added that in this reporting period the relevant ministry had achieved significant results in the implementation of policy in the fields of science, technological development and innovation, as well as the application of positive regulations and the development of new regulations in accordance with modern trends in the development of the scientific research area.
On behalf of the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, State Secretary Milan Dobrijevic presented to the Committee the specific objectives of the Bill on the Confirmation of the International Agreement between the European Union, of the one part, and the Republic of Serbia, of the other part, on the participation of the Republic of Serbia in the Union Programme Digital Europe (2021-2027), submitted by the Government.
The Committee proceeded to adopt the bills submitted by the Government, as well as the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation Activity Information for the period April – June 2023.
The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Prof. Dr Marko Atlagic, and attended by the following Committee members and deputy members: Tatjana Medved, Stojan Radenovic, Prof. Dr Vladimir Obradovic, Prof. Dr Mirka Lukic-Sarkanovic, Dejana Vasic, Prof. Dr Jahja Fehratovic, Ana Miljanic, Dr Zika Bujuklic, Prof. Dr Branimir Jovancicevic, Prof. Dr Djordje Pavicevic, Dr Tatjana Jovanovic, Natasa Ivanovic, Ljubinko Djurkovic and MA Djordje Kosanic. The sitting was also attended by MP Bosko Obradovic.
