$ ONTINUE ZAGREB, 1 Aug (Hina) - The representatives of the Croatian Ministry of Education and Sports, U.N. Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES) and local Serbs met on Friday to discuss the reintegration of the
education system in the Danube river region. The three sides failed to reach agreement on numerous open questions, such as the issue of headmasters and the validation of diplomas, but they agreed to continue the talks on Monday.
REGION TO C
$ ONTINUE
ZAGREB, 1 Aug (Hina) - The representatives of the Croatian
Ministry of Education and Sports, U.N. Transitional
Administration in Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES) and local Serbs met
on Friday to discuss the reintegration of the education system in
the Danube river region. The three sides failed to reach
agreement on numerous open questions, such as the issue of
headmasters and the validation of diplomas, but they agreed to
continue the talks on Monday. #L#
UNTAES representative Robert Gravella said that the
bilingual certificates did not have the appropriate format as
there was not enough space to print on them the content in both
the Latin and Cyrillic scripts. Gravella asked that the deadline
for the validation of diplomas be extended until 10 September.
The Serb representatives from the Danube river region
agreed with Gravella's objection, adding that an agreement with
guarantees concerning a school net, the status of the Serbian
language and other issues should be signed.
Education and Sports Minister Ljilja Vokic recalled that
the Serb side had accepted the current diplomas on 10 June.
Although 10,800 new diplomas had been printed, only 550 pupils in
Osijek County and 55 pupils in Vukovar County have had their
diplomas validated, she added.
The Ministry therefore believes that there is not enough
interest in the validation of diplomas, Vokic said, adding that
the extension of the deadline was possible only until 1 September
and not 10 September.
Speaking about the Serb proposal concerning the signing of
an agreement which would give guarantees concerning the issues
such as a school net and the status of the Serbian language,
Vokic said that there was no need for such an agreement, as
Croatian laws already guarantee education rights to the Serb
national minority.
Vokic added that the Ministry had accepted all employees
who meet legal work requirements.
The three sides also discussed the allocation of
headmasters' positions and the question of a school net in the
Danube river region. Not one school in the Danube river region
will be closed, Vokic said, adding that the appointment of
headmasters will be 'just and unbiased'.
Four lessons of Croatian per week will be obligatory, Vokic
said, adding that this was envisaged in the Hague Convention as
well. The number of lessons of Serbian will be optional, Vokic
added.
(hina) rm
011827 MET aug 97