Belgrade, March 7, 2026
Organized by the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, an open forum on education reform was held with more than 30 teachers from across Serbia. The discussion was led by Namir Ibrahimović, an expert on education reforms in the region.
.
Participants discussed several key issues: the bureaucratization of reforms, student passivity, inadequate assessment practices, and the marginalization of teachers in the creation of education policies. Special focus was placed on the organization of teaching, the role of teachers as mentors, the structure of subjects, and the need for additional teacher training.
All participants agreed that meaningful change is possible only through an organic process emerging from within the teaching community itself. Teachers’ lounges should become spaces for planned and structured discussions about teaching, while reforms should begin with small changes in schools, classrooms, and teachers’ professional groups. The importance of involving students and parents was emphasized, as well as the need to research the effects of proposed changes. The full-day school model was mentioned as a potential way to free up time for shared activities and reduce the burden of homework.
Namir Ibrahimović emphasized: “No reform will happen unless it grows organically out of the needs of teachers, students, and society.”
More details about the discussion topics and conclusions will soon be available on the EduLab website.