Boris Jokić and members of his team ask Education Minister Šustar to dismiss them.
Head of the working group for the implementation of a comprehensive curricular reform Boris Jokić and his team have resigned, citing political pressure as an explanation, adding that their decision is final, reports Večernji List on May 25, 2016.
“In this process, we currently do not have the impression that there is a support for us as a group and trust in us as people to take this process further. We were fully ready for a dialogue, we were ready for the expansion of the working group, however, we cannot agree to political influences”, said Jokić at a press conference.
“Political pressure in this case is simple. The Parliamentary Committee has decided to expand the working group, which would not be problematic if it was somehow communicated. However, the description of what the group was supposed to do does not match the description and nature of what this reform has been from the very beginning. The group is supposed to determine what is acceptable and what is not, which suggests certain censorship procedures and takes us back to the communist era”, explained Jokić.
He confirmed that he had heard from Minister Predrag Šustar before the press conference, adding that he though "the Minister wants this change”. “Croatia is, unfortunately, at the moment in such a political situation that marginal political options have the ability to influence things that should be of national importance. If the dominant political parties, primarily HDZ and SDP and MOST, do not agree about this, then we have no chance”, said Jokić. He explained that he meant rightwing party HRAST when he spoke of marginal political options.
“Minister Predrag Šustar should resign”, said SDP member Sabina Glasovac, Vice-Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Culture, commenting on the Jokić’s resignation. Glasovac said that Šustar remained silent and that he was only a formal minister, sending a message that this "incompetent government" would soon leave its position. “After a long time, a group of people has been formed in Croatia who represented hope that Croatia can do better, that the system can undergo changes”, said Glasovac.
