The Government of the Republic of Srpska has invested 400,000 BAM in the renovation of two pavilions at the Student Centre in Trebinje, in order to provide students with the best possible accommodation conditions, said today Prof. Draga Mastilović PhD, Minister of Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska.
"250,000 BAM will be invested in the renovation of the second pavilion of the Student Centre in Trebinje, where works are currently under way, while the first pavilion has already been renovated," Minister Mastilović said after inspecting the works and meeting with Student Centre Director Davor Milidragović.
Minister Mastilović stressed that the renovation was very important in ensuring that the Student Centre in Trebinje provides fully adequate accommodation for students.
"We also discussed the need to build a student canteen, and we will address this in the coming period so that we can complete the facilities available to students, enabling them to have everything in one place – renovated accommodation and new furniture," Mastilović said.
He stressed that the Government of the Republic of Srpska had invested substantial funds in higher education in recent years, particularly in improving student welfare and living standards. He noted that this year the Government had approved and launched projects in this area worth more than 30 million BAM, including projects aimed at providing student accommodation and improving students' living conditions.
"The Government of the Republic of Srpska is doing all this with one goal – to provide students with the best possible conditions for studying and the highest-quality education, so that young people remain in the Republic of Srpska to study and live, because they are its future and its greatest strategic resource," Minister Mastilović emphasised.
He announced that the Government of the Republic of Srpska would continue to work on improving student welfare and living standards, noting that, according to certain indicators, the Republic of Srpska is a regional and European leader in this area. Students in the Republic of Srpska have access to fully free tuition at universities, as well as free accommodation in student residences, while meals in student residences are also subsidised.
"Every year, the Government of the Republic of Srpska awards more than 1,000 student scholarships, which have been increased this year," Mastilović stressed.
He noted that this year projects aimed at improving student welfare had been launched across the Republic of Srpska, from Trebinje to Prijedor, stressing that investment was being distributed evenly across all parts of the Republic of Srpska. He also announced works at the student residence in Zvornik.
"The Student Centre in Prijedor will also be renovated, as will the second student pavilion in Foča, with the total value of these projects exceeding 25 million BAM. Works are also under way in Banja Luka and Istočno Sarajevo," Minister Mastilović said, urging secondary-school graduates in the Republic of Srpska to choose one of the universities in the Republic of Srpska for their further studies.
Milidragović said that the renovation of the second pavilion at the Student Centre in Trebinje had begun yesterday and that the deadline for completion was 60 days. He expressed hope that all works would be completed by the beginning of the new academic year.