An emergency session of Serbia’s parliamentary education committee, convened following a fatal incident at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, was marked by sharp exchanges between government officials and university representatives, raising questions over whether the meeting served its stated purpose or devolved into political confrontation.
The session was called at the initiative of parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabić to address the situation at state universities, with ministers, security officials and rectors invited to attend.
Tensions escalated early in the debate, with officials focusing on accountability for the death of a female student at the faculty, which authorities said must be thoroughly investigated and explained by university leadership.
Education Minister Dejan Vuk Stanković described the incident as “the tip of the iceberg” of a broader crisis in Serbia’s higher education system, calling for a full clarification of the circumstances and stronger safeguards for student safety.
However, the session quickly took on a political tone. Brnabić openly criticised University of Belgrade rector Vladan Đokić, accusing him of failing to respond promptly to the tragedy and of using the forum to raise unrelated political issues.
She questioned his actions following the incident and rejected attempts to link the discussion to other events, saying the focus should remain on the circumstances of the student’s death and institutional responsibility.
The exchange highlighted broader divisions between government officials and parts of the academic community, with the session reflecting ongoing tensions over governance, accountability and political influence in Serbia’s university sector.
The committee meeting, officially dedicated to reviewing conditions in higher education, concluded without clear consensus, underscoring the depth of disagreement over both the causes of the incident and the direction of reforms.