High school students and citizens hold placards and flags during a demonstration against the introduction of online courses in the centre of Novi Sad, Serbia, 26 April 2025. Photo:Oliver Bunik / AFP
Protests have broken out in Serbia among high school students who oppose the introduction of online learning. The students consider remote lessons ineffective and unacceptable, calling on the authorities to return to traditional education, AFP reports.
Protests took place in several cities across the country, including Belgrade and Novi Sad. Students took to the streets with placards that read: “Online lessons are not the solution” and “We want to learn in the classroom”. They argue that distance learning degrades the quality of education and has a negative impact on mental health.
The Serbian Ministry of Education has introduced online lessons as a temporary measure in response to the rising COVID-19 cases. However, students and their parents believe that the authorities should find other ways to ensure safety in schools without switching to distance learning.
Representatives of student organisations are calling for a dialogue with the government to find alternative solutions that would preserve the quality of education and ensure the safety of students.
