Radulović: The city authorities are deepening inequality, the logic of „you're not one of us“ still prevails in education
The state, through the will of one woman for whom power became more important than the law, inflicted damage upon itself amounting to half a million euros, and those court rulings were paid from the pockets of citizens, instead of holding accountable those who caused them. I myself was among those who dared to call that injustice by its true name: I sued the Ministry of Education and won the case, because when someone tries to take away your dignity, they take away your soul as well - says Radulović
Professor of Montenegrin language and councillor of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) in the Assembly of the Capital City Mirjana Radulović is one of those education professionals whose career best reveals the depth of the institutional blow inflicted on the education sector. In an interview for our portal, she harshly criticises the current authorities for what she describes as selective decision-making, identity engineering, institutional arbitrariness, and double standards. She speaks about the gifting of municipal land to the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC), discrimination against the jotated variant of the language, Megatrend diplomas, the alarming rise in peer violence, and reminds the public of the unlawful dismissal of 260 school principals ordered by Vesna Bratić.
„When someone tries to take away your dignity, they take away your soul. I will never allow that“.
ETV Portal: The Assembly supported the proposal of Mayor Saša Mujović to allocate land in Konik to the Serbian Orthodox Church for the construction of the Church of St. Basil of Ostrog. What does such a decision mean for the local community, considering that Podgorica already has 18 SOC parishes, including nine churches and several dozen smaller chapels?
Radulović: The decision to gift yet another piece of municipal land in Konik to the SOC for a new church is, above all, political and identity-driven, and only secondarily pastoral or urbanistic in nature. In the context of an already highly developed network of SOC churches in Podgorica, such a move sends a clear message about whose needs the city authorities prioritise.
Konik is one of the most densely populated and socially vulnerable areas of Podgorica, with a distinctly mixed ethnic and religious structure and a large number of Roma, Albanians, Bosniaks, and other minorities. In such an environment, gifting an attractive plot of land further undermines the sense of equality among communities that have for years been pointing to infrastructural and social problems - from sewage systems to housing.
At present, at least 13 schools, kindergartens, health centres, and other public services are missing, which points to a clear imbalance between spiritual projects and basic public needs. The Assembly should be sending a message that it is ready to build neutral, inclusive spaces that benefit all citizens, regardless of faith. For most residents of Konik, this decision does not solve any key everyday problem - education, healthcare, traffic, sewage, or social protection - but instead deepens the feeling of unequal treatment, rather than serving as an opportunity to develop Konik as a most diverse neighbourhood in the city.
ETV Portal: The Government recently suspended the recognition of diplomas obtained at Megatrend University, even though it is undisputed that many holders of such diplomas sit in parliamentary benches. Is this the beginning of a systemic clean-up, or merely an illusion? Have you taken part in any debate or initiative regarding the verification of teaching staff qualifications?
Radulović: The suspension of Megatrend diploma recognition is an important, but insufficient step if it is not accompanied by what was previously promised - a systemic review of all diplomas, including those of public officials. When one higher education institution is „cut off“ under the pressure of scandal, while dozens of questionable certificates among top officials remain unaddressed, the fight against fake diplomas becomes selective and resembles a political manoeuvre more than a serious reform.
It is precisely this gap between the announced „cleansing“ of the system and the real situation that sends a bad message to young people: that knowledge and hard work are not valued equally for everyone, and that shortcuts and exceptions exist for the privileged. Instead of Megatrend being the starting point of a comprehensive audit, it appears as an alibi measure - a symbolic sacrifice that preserves existing power hierarchies and protects those who built their careers on questionable credentials and now occupy important state positions.
If stricter controls apply to teachers while remaining a dead letter for officials, the message is clear: standards are double. Some must prove every page of their education, while others’ diplomas are tacitly ignored. In such an environment, fake and dubious diplomas do not disappear - they simply retreat into the shadows, while young people see that „resourcefulness“ and political loyalty often pay off more than work and learning, which directly undermines trust in the education system and motivation to invest in it.
ETV Portal: Recently, the National Library refused to print a book by Danilo Burzan in the jotated variant of the Montenegrin language. You reacted by calling for respect for linguistic equality and support for publishing the book in both variants, after which you became the target of personal attacks by the director. How do you see this incident?
Radulović: I perceive the rejection of the jotated version of the book and the subsequent threats as a worrying combination of institutional arbitrariness and personal retaliation, rather than a reasoned professional debate. This is therefore a question of system and values, not of my personal animosity toward anyone.
This is not just about one book by Danilo Burzan, but about the attitude of a city library toward constitutionally and legally recognised elements of the Montenegrin language standard, including jotated forms and specific letters. If a public cultural institution declares one legal variant of the Montenegrin language „unacceptable“, that constitutes institutional discrimination, regardless of how it is rhetorically wrapped in stories about „aesthetic criteria“.
As a councillor and as someone professionally engaged with language and literature, I am obliged to react when a public institution funded by all citizens effectively relativises linguistic equality and the pluralism of the Montenegrin standard. Instead of a professional and evidence-based discussion on the role of the library and the Montenegrin language standard, what followed were personal attacks, labelling, and attempts to discredit me as a „Montenegrin aunt“, „nationalist“ and the like - via social media and media outlets close to the current city authorities.
Such language and communication style say a great deal about the person leading the city library and send a message that anyone who demands respect for the Montenegrin language and identity is a legitimate target of insults.
Once a normatively grounded variant of the Montenegrin language is declared „undesirable“, tomorrow the Montenegrin language itself may be deemed „redundant“. I see the threats and „poisoned arrows“ as confirmation that this issue has struck a nerve among those who would prefer the public space to exist without the Montenegrin language in its full capacity. However, such reactions will not deter me from demanding respect for constitutional principles and professional standards in culture. Ultimately, if the city library in Podgorica lacks the strength to stand up for linguistic equality, then it is up to us - councillors, authors, and the public - to remind it of that clearly and persistently.
ETV Portal: According to Police Directorate data, 47 cases of peer violence have been recorded in Montenegro over the past four months. This is a clear warning that the problem is not being adequately addressed. How serious is the situation and what are the consequences?
Radulović: The phenomenon of violence in Montenegrin schools is increasingly drawing the attention of both experts and the wider public, as it goes beyond isolated incidents and points to deeper social dysfunctions. Existing institutional measures, such as introducing school security guards, have proven to be partial and insufficiently effective solutions.
Violence is not only a security issue, it is a deeply social one. It is not only physical, but also social, verbal, psychological, and cyber in nature, which is why a stronger systemic response is needed through the strengthening of professional services, psychological support, and clear accountability protocols.
Addressing this issue must be interdisciplinary, involving not only the education sector, but also social services, healthcare institutions, local communities, and the media. The key challenge lies in building a school environment that affirms emotional literacy, empathy, and mutual respect. In the long term, only such models can contribute to reducing violent behavioural patterns.
ETV Portal: The Assembly of the Capital City also decided on naming new streets in Podgorica. How do you interpret the messages sent by this decision, and what do you consider most important?
Radulović: The decision to name new streets in Podgorica carries a strong symbolic and identity message, because through names we show how we perceive the past, present, and future of the capital. Streets will bear the names of Charles Baudelaire, Aristotle, Josef Holeček, as well as Montenegrin and Yugoslav figures such as Jovo Bećir, Mašo Vrbica, Boro Begović, Nikola Raičević, Pero Ivanović, and Koča Popović.
The message is that Podgorica seeks to present itself as a city belonging to the European cultural canon, while at the same time reaffirming its own history and deserving local individuals. It is positive that the long-unresolved status of many streets that for years had no names or only temporary ones is finally being addressed, an issue that is both administrative and identity-related.
This is also a way to preserve Montenegrin history and affirm the values of the antifascist heritage in the heart of our capital. Every street thus becomes a living monument to generations who fought for our freedom, building a bridge between the past and the future.
ETV Portal: Your professional biography was also marked by the unlawful dismissal of school principals during the tenure of Minister Vesna Bratić. In your view, is this model of political purging still present in the system today?
Radulović: Within two days, without analysis, criteria, or even a shred of shame, standardised copy-paste decisions were sent to around 260 school, kindergarten, and student dormitory principals across Montenegro. The only criterion was: „You’re not one of us“. No one asked about results, dedication, education, or even whether those people were alive - some decisions were addressed to deceased individuals.
The state, through the will of one woman for whom power became more important than the law, inflicted damage upon itself amounting to half a million euros, and those court rulings were paid from the pockets of citizens instead of holding those responsible accountable. I myself was among those who dared to call that injustice by its true name: I sued the Ministry of Education and won the case, because when someone tries to take away your dignity, they take away your soul. I will never allow that.
I did not sue out of spite, but out of justice - to prove that the law exists and that no one’s ego can trample it. Today, from the opposition benches, I fight for the same value I have always advocated: a functional and fair Podgorica. I do not see my role through divisions, but through responsibility. As a native of Podgorica, I want a city where leadership positions belong to people of knowledge, reputation, and integrity - not to nepotism, populism, or primitivism.