ATTACKED A CHILD WITH DISABILITIES: Minors who beat a man to death are spreading fear again in Novi Sad!

Cases of peer violence, unfortunately, no longer surprise anyone. However, what is happening at Vuk Karadžić Elementary School in Novi Sad is particularly concerning and frightening, as the violence against students has been committed by juvenile delinquents who, less than two years ago, brutally beat an elderly man, leading to his death.

Although they were placed in an appropriate institution as minors, this does not prevent them from committing new crimes when they are unsupervised. Parents are worried because, according to them, the school remains silent about every form of violence.

The same was true on February 25, when a horrifying fight broke out in the schoolyard of Vuk Karadžić Elementary School. A concerned mother of a sixth-grader recounted what exactly happened.

“Two boys under the age of 14 stormed into the schoolyard and targeted children from first to fourth grade. These are children already known for their violent behavior. They entered the yard and started slapping the children. Specifically, they targeted a third-grade boy with developmental disabilities,” the very concerned mother told Telegraf.

Parents confirm that these are the same two minors who, less than two years ago, beat a 75-year-old man in a town in Bačka. The unfortunate man later passed away. A harsher punishment was expectedly absent due to their age.

One of the several attacked boys suffered severe bruising from the blows. Needless to say, all the children were terrified, especially because the two delinquents—former students of this school—arrived on a motorbike and literally stormed into the crowd.

Another incident occurred a few days later, this time between sixth-grade students during a religion class. Two students beat up a third.

“Neither the teacher tried to separate them, nor did the school psychologist do anything. When we approached the principal, she said that, by law, teachers are not allowed to separate children who are fighting,” our source revealed, describing the highly tense atmosphere at this Novi Sad school.

SCHOOL SECURITY ISSUES

The lack of proper security at this school is evident from the fact that only recently did the school gates begin to be locked. Until then, as this concerned mother pointed out, literally anyone could enter from the street. Making matters worse, the same premises also house a kindergarten with even younger children.

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PARENTS SEEK SOLUTIONS, SCHOOL REMAINS SILENT

After the first incident, parents gathered to discuss measures to ensure their children’s safety at school. In a document obtained by Telegraf, the following measures were proposed:

Initiating a school-led petition to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) for a school police officer. This officer would not need to be present during classes but would patrol three schools in Novi Sad throughout the day.
Surveying parents via Viber groups to determine support for hiring a private security agency.
Ensuring that the school gate remains locked.

A meeting to discuss these points was held three days after the schoolyard incident, on February 28.

Less than a week later, Telegraf followed up with two parents to check on progress.

“After the incident, the only action taken by the school was locking the gate. We have received no response regarding school security—whether the city or the state will provide it, or if we, the parents, will have to pay for it out of our own pockets,” said the father of one student at this Novi Sad school.

He also mentioned that a representative from the Center for Social Work, who is also a parent of a student, attended the meeting. She did not deny that the perpetrators are, as she put it, “delinquents ready for anything.” However, she highlighted a very concerning issue—her institution’s hands are tied when it comes to dealing with these two violent minors.

When the school principal was asked, “Who is responsible for children while they are in the schoolyard?” the response was, surprisingly, “The schoolyard is public property!”

Another question followed: “Who is responsible if, despite the locked gate, someone enters the school while children and teachers are in class?” No clear answer was given.

The principal was also asked: “If an incident occurs during class (such as the fight during the religion lesson), is the teacher allowed to intervene and separate the children?” She responded that teachers are not permitted to physically separate them and should only warn them, while the “most composed student should immediately go to inform the principal and psychologist, who will then respond appropriately.”

Lastly, parents asked, “How many teachers were working on the day of the incident with the delinquents?” The principal stated that out of 12 teachers, four were present. However, parents claim there were only two, possibly three.

Regarding discrimination in school during disruptions and ways to overcome them, the school provided no concrete answers, apart from citing the school statute.

PARENTS DISAPPOINTED WITH THE SCHOOL’S RESPONSE

Parents are deeply disappointed with the school’s response and agree that custodians and janitors are not responsible for children’s safety, nor should they be blamed for any security lapses. Moreover, concerned parents emphasize that improving safety at this educational institution is crucial not only for their children but also for all staff members.

In response to this incident, Telegraf contacted the Ministry of Education to inform them about the problem. We requested an explanation regarding the engagement of a school police officer, security personnel, and how staff members are allowed to respond in cases of peer violence. We have yet to receive a response.

Similarly, the school has not responded to our inquiries.