site.btaSerbian Parliament Halves Student Fees, Increases Higher Education Budget, Introduces Preferential Housing Loans for Youth

Serbia's Parliament Thursday approved legislative changes that will halve student fees, increase the higher education budget by 20%, and introduce preferential housing loans for young people.

The amendments to the higher education law and a set of financial laws were passed with support from the ruling coalition and two opposition groups - the People's Movement of Serbia and the Green–Left Front, Serbian media reported.

National Assembly Speaker Ana Brnabic said that the changes to the higher education law were aimed at encouraging protesting students to end the blockade affecting more than 60 faculties, where classes have been suspended since late November 2024. She expressed hope that students would return to their lectures.

Brnabic also thanked MPs who participated in the vote and debates, despite the violent incident caused by the opposition during the first sitting of the Serbian Parliament's spring session on March 4. Three female MPs were injured after opposition members threw smoke grenades and used pepper spray to protest against the government and to support demonstrating students.