DODIK: UNIVERSITIES ARE FORTRESSES OF THE FUTURE, INVESTMENTS MUST CONTINUE

BANJA LUKA, JULY 3 /SRNA/ – The President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik has stated today that every university is a fortress of the future that must be secured, remain free and independent, with support from the republic's institutions.

"It is not easy today when we are facing many problems, but we have never neglected our obligations towards universities," Dodik emphasized in Banja Luka, speaking at the presentation of key information on current enrolment for the first year of the first cycle of studies and investments in the development of the University of Banja Luka. He congratulated the university on successfully completing the academic year. "With additional optimism, we can certainly speak about the coming year," Dodik said. He noted that facilities for faculties have been built in Srpska, but that much has also been invested in teaching staff. "You are an important educational and social resource for Republika Srpska. Every investment in the university is an investment in the future," Dodik stated. The President of Srpska said there is no strong Republic without strong education, adding that when someone wants to destroy a society, they attack its education system. "What is happening in Serbia has such a connotation," Dodik noted. He reminded that Srpska increases the scope of its investments in education every year. Republika Srpska, which aspires to be stable and secure, must, he said, be free in every sense of the word, and this is not possible without those who have knowledge. Dodik said that the time is coming when Srpska’s subjectivity will be built upon the quality of its education. "We must have our own cadre. The social and political elite is something that Srpska struggles with. BiH is not our goal. We will have an independent state with an independent education system. Political Sarajevo has been working the entire time to diminish the influence of Republika Srpska," Dodik noted. The President of Srpska emphasized that he wants to see the University of Banja Luka even stronger and that Srpska is ready to invest more funds to enable the acquisition of knowledge for the modern era, which is rapidly changing. The University of Banja Luka is recording excellent interest from candidates for enrolment in the first year of the first cycle of studies, with a total of 2,377 applicants registered for entrance exams in the first admission round, which is an increase compared to last year, when the number of applicants was 2,065.