(Adnkronos) – Students in Serbia have ended the occupation of universities, which lasted almost a year and was conducted as part of a protest for democracy and the rule of law triggered in the country by the collapse of the Novi Sad train station canopy, which caused the death of 16 people a year ago. This was reported today by the Serbian news agency, Tanjug, citing the Ministry of Education.
Classes resumed today in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, and Novi Pazar, while other institutions had preceded them, Tanjug reported. “The regular academic year with in-person classes will begin on November 3,” the independent news agency Fonet stated, citing the dean of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. Classes, tests, and exams will proceed as usual. In-person teaching was suspended during the protests, although faculty and students tried to compensate for the interruptions through online and distance learning.
Students had begun occupying universities across the country in mid-November last year, following the collapse of the recently renovated canopy of the Novi Sad train station, which occurred on November 1, 2024, causing 16 deaths and dozens of injuries. (continues)
The disaster triggered the largest and most enduring protest movement in the country’s recent history. Protesters and experts attribute responsibility for the tragedy to widespread corruption that has spread – they say – under President Aleksandar Vučić. In addition to occupations, students have also organized road blockades and mass demonstrations. The movement, now supported by broad segments of the population, is calling for early elections.
On Saturday in Novi Sad, tens of thousands of people – who converged on the northern city, the capital of Vojvodina, through long marches from all over the country – commemorated the anniversary of the disaster. At 11:52 local time, the crowd – gathered at 16 different points in the city – began marching towards the train station, where they then stopped to observe 16 minutes of silence, one for each victim.
