No full‑day classes for first graders at Vera Jocić in Hipodrom after Ministry did not approve teacher hires

No full-day classes are being held for first-grade students at Vera Jocić Primary School in the Hipodrom neighbourhood of the Gazi Baba municipality, after the Ministry of Education did not approve hiring of teachers.

The school enrolled three first-grade sections this year, but administrators did not hire sufficient staff to run extended (full‑day) classes. Parents say the lack of approved hirings is the direct reason pupils finish after regular morning lessons.

Parents say they were told full‑day care would be available

Several parents who contacted the editorial office said they now face practical problems because their children finish lessons at about 11 a.m. and there is no one at the school to look after them for the rest of the day.

"The school did not hire enough teaching staff to run full‑day classes. My wife and I work in the private sector with strict absence and leave rules. We have no alternatives to pick up our child at the end of regular classes. When we enrolled our daughter in May, we were told the school provides full‑day classes, and the unpleasant news was announced to us on the first day of the school year," said a parent from the Hipodrom neighbourhood who contacted the editorial office.

Parents say they were informed about full‑day provision at enrolment in May, and that the change was only communicated at the start of classes. The situation leaves families with limited options and parents calling for a prompt solution from the responsible institutions.

Photo: Општина Гази Баба)