Jokić at the March for Science: It is more transparent to elect a janitor than a head of curricular reform

Under the slogan March for Science, a couple of thousand people gathered on Saturday at the Nikola Tesla monument in Preradovićeva Street, who set off towards European Square at five to twelve, while in Split, numerous participants of the march moved through the streets of the old town center, symbolically indicating that science and higher education in Croatia are underfunded and neglected, hence “for Croatian science, it is five to twelve.”

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Protesters in Zagreb stated that through the March for Science, they want to highlight that insufficient investment is made in science and higher education, that prejudices are growing, pseudo-sciences are being promoted, and institutional clientelism is present.

Promoting science, protecting the scientific principle, and above all, education

Candidate in the recent elections for the rector of the University of Zagreb, Damir Bakić, emphasized that the goal of the march is to defend the scientific principle and promote science, especially at a time “when we are witnessing many denials of scientific achievements and principles.”

“It is the duty of all of us who deal with science and educate young people to stand up and protect the scientific principle, critical thinking, and above all, education,” asserted Bakić. He pointed out that it is not even important how many people came to the march, but it is important to send a clear message that we will not give up the fight for science and education, and warned of threats to scientific results, citing the anti-vaccination movement as an example.

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Former head of the Expert Working Group (ERS) for the implementation of curricular reform, Boris Jokić, warned that every year less is invested in science despite the fact that systematic investment in science and curricular reform is essential for development.

“Society and the state hardly allocate any financial resources for education, science, and culture. These are sectors that can pull this country out of the mire it is in, and therefore we need to invest in people. I am here for the children because we need to invest in them and in science. Unfortunately, Croatian politicians, regardless of party affiliation, do not invest in these sectors, nor in people,” emphasized Jokić.

More responsibility in the election of the president and janitor of class 3c than in the responsibility of politicians for curricular reform

Jokić also expressed dissatisfaction that there is no longer a head of the ERS but a coordinator instead, stating that “there is more responsibility, transparency, and clarity in the election of a janitor and president of class 3c than politicians show in the case of curricular reform.”

“It is shameful what they are doing and how they are undermining the rule of law, meritocracy, and democratic principles. When those who lead this country undermine them, we all must ask ourselves where this is leading,” he said.

The experimental application of curricular reform begins in the fall.

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Support for science, support for reforms, support for the desire for Croatia to move forward, not backward, not to question the things we have achieved, to move forward, is the reason why Anka Mrak Taritaš from the Glas party was also at the march.

“Recently, the public space has been polluted with lies and misinformation. That is why it feels good, a beautiful day, many young people who want what is good for Croatia just like I do,” she emphasized.

The president of the SDP, Davor Bernardić, also participated in the March for Science, who also warned of insufficient investment in science and education, which he assessed is regularly accompanied by the distortion of scientific facts, prejudices, and personal promotion for the sake of gaining cheap political points. He believes that Croatia has been stagnating for a long time because no one has had the courage to change the system through reforms in education, justice, and healthcare.

Bernardić told the government that “nepotism and staffing are the only things they deal with when it comes to education and reforms.”

Citizens: See how billions, billions of atoms march for science

Among the banners carried by citizens, one could read “See how billions, billions of atoms march for science,” “I think therefore I march,” “Don’t believe! Doubt,” “Croatia loves knowledge,” “Science for all! All for Science”…

Citizens started from the Nikola Tesla monument, through Zrinjevac, to Ban Jelačić Square, and at European Square, speakers presented messages to the relevant institutions.

Photo: Youtube

“Ignorance is powerlessness, that is important. Young people do not leave because there is a better salary somewhere, but because they feel that Croatia is sinking irretrievably. This gathering is hope that Croatia has a future. We must all work together to ensure that Croatia moves forward,” they stated and called on the government to secure financial resources for reforms.

Speeches were also held by Dr. Nikola Baketa from the Institute for Social Research, Ivana Radačić from the Ivo Pilar Institute, and students Marta Šojat from Croatian Studies, Zuzana Redžović, and Lana Flanjak from PMF.

According to police estimates, between 1500 and 1700 people participated in the March for Science, while journalists estimated a couple of thousand.

Science is completely ‘withdrawing’ from the old town center of Split; without science, there is no democracy

Participants of the march in Split carried banners that read, among other things: “Without science, there is no democracy,” “A society of ignorance is a society of losers,” “Knowledge and education are an investment, not an expense,” “Fight for reason, fight for knowledge,” “Knowledge is power.”

Addressing the participants of the Split March for Science at its departure from Đardin Park, student Dora Bogdanović emphasized that the March for Science is more needed in Croatia than ever because, she believes, “we are witnessing the degradation of education and knowledge in our country.”

“Every day, scientific facts are twisted for personal promotion and political points, causing irreparable damage. The consequences of these harmful behaviors are seen daily in the form of social conflicts, dissatisfaction, general despair, and increasing emigration of all age groups of the population,” she said.

During the walk through the old town center, Bogdanović pointed out that by passing through that part of the city, the March for Science aims to warn that there is a “complete withdrawal of science, education, students, and generally life from the historical core of Split and an increasing capitulation of the city to tourists.”

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“Libraries and reading rooms have been closed and turned into ‘fast food places,'” she asserted. The march participants paused near the Ivo Pilar Institute and the Faculty of Philosophy, and Bogdanović remarked that “scientists are under increasing pressure to leave these spaces and surrender that location to hotels and hostels.”

Among others, the president of the Pametno party, Marijana Puljak, the president of the Split SDP, Goran Kotur, city councilors of the SDP Aida Batarelo and Joško Markić, city councilors of the HNS Goran Kovačević and Mirna Kovačić, and city councilor of the Pametno party Jakov Prkić participated in the Split March for Science.

Insufficient investment in science and higher education accompanied by the creation of public policies based on prejudices, media promotion of pseudo-science and superstition, and institutional clientelism are some of the key neuralgic points of Croatian society that the organizers of the March for Science want to highlight and thus join the global initiative for an advanced and just society based on science, expertise, and ethics.