Centre for Civic Education (CCE) congratulates all students 4 April – Students’ Day – reminding of the importance of critical thinking, civic activism, and student rebellion in building an open, just, and democratically functional society.
In the context of growing challenges concerning the erosion of academic standards, political party influence on the education system, and the restriction of freedom of thought, it is essential that students refuse to accept projected passivity and instead participate in creating social change. Throughout history, students have often been the key drivers of progressive change, bravely pointing out injustices and demanding accountability from those in power, which has been crucial for society as a whole. Many reforms of different systems and regimes began as student revolts, which, with their persistence and energy, gained wider public support and grew into massive and successful protests.
In recent period, we are witnessing impressive student protests in Serbia, triggered by the tragedy in Novi Sad, where 16 people lost their lives. Through these protests, students are demanding accountability from authorities and transparency in the work of institutions. These protests culminated in a gathering of hundreds of thousands of citizens in Belgrade on 15 March 2025, marking one of the largest such gatherings in Serbia’s recent history, and in the region as well.
In Montenegro, the informal student group Kamo Śutra? organised protests in Podgorica, demanding the resignation of key figures in the security sector as well as important systemic reforms, following the tragic events in Cetinje on 1 January 2025, when 13 people were killed in a mass shooting. According to the latest MNE Pulse data, conducted this year by CCE and DAMAR Institute, the majority of citizens, i.e. 61.1%, to a greater or lesser extent, supported their demands, and some also independently organised gatherings, protests, and blockades.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, protests were also organised related to holding authorities accountable after tragic events. In February 2025, students in Sarajevo launched demonstrations demanding responsibility for the death of 29 people in the floods that hit Jablanica in 2024. Students demanded accountability from relevant institutions, highlighting the lack of transparency in their work and inadequate responses to natural disasters.
CCE continues to support all young people who want to change society for the better because they are the ones who have the power to lay the foundations for a society based on justice, freedom, and equal opportunities for all.
We also recall Žarko Marinović, in whose honour Students’ Day is celebrated. His courage and fight for justice show how important perseverance is in defending one’s rights and advocating for social responsibility. Such examples should inspire young people not to retreat in the face of injustice but to actively shape the future they want to live in.
Ivana Matanović, Programme Associate