Back
in 2019, the Human Rights Defender received complaints that there were several issues
regarding the admission of children to a public educational institution near
their place of residence. Although these issues have been partially resolved,
in 2020 complaints were continually addressed to the Office of the Human Rights
Defender.
Therefore,
according to the changes made in 2020, when organizing the admission of
students to the institutions, priority was given to children whose siblings
were studying at the same school, or to children whose parents were employees
at that school. Though the school admission procedure has been clarified, the
admission of children whose place of residence was close to the institution
should have been prioritized when making those changes.
The
Defender continues to receive complaints about attending a school closer to
their place of residence even in 2021. Parents state that taking their children
to school far from their place of residence creates difficulties, especially in
cases where the child has a disability or mobility issues. Needless to say,
that these children and their parents already face problems regarding the
transportation and other living conditions. The problem remains current in
cases when there are other children in the family or children in need of
special care.
This
creates difficulties, especially for working parents of elementary school
children. They have to take their children to schools as a result of which problems
arise at their workplaces.
Failure
to consider the place of residence as a criterion for admission to a public
educational institution also causes financial difficulties for parents.
Given
the urgency of the issue, the Human Rights Defender proposes to make
appropriate changes, which will give priority to students who live closest to
the school as one of the criteria for admission to a public educational
institution.
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