The Protector of Citizens sent an opinion to the local self-government units in the Republic of Serbia, in which he invites them to, in accordance with their capabilities, continuously announce competitions for the awarding of student scholarships and to introduce lighter criteria for the awarding of student scholarships to children and young people with disabilities. In this way, local self-governments would improve the position and degree of realization of the right to education of children and young people with disabilities.
Namely, the results of the research of the Association of Students with Disabilities, conducted in 2021, show that a very small number of local self-government units in the Republic of Serbia announce competitions in the above-mentioned manner.
The Protector of Citizens believes that it is necessary to include more lightly defined criteria for giving scholarships to pupils and students with disabilities in all competitions of local self-governments for the awarding of student scholarships, in order to enable inclusive education and upbringing for as many children and young people with disabilities as possible. In this way, these people are supported to realize their full capacities, to become economically independent and fully integrate into society.