Ersan Spahić, the former director of the Podgorica Electrical Engineering School, was unlawfully granted a license to work in educational institutions on May 5. Consequently, the Institute for Education has initiated procedures to establish the accountability of the responsible officials, as reported to “Vijesti” by the educational institution.

Spahić was dismissed late last week following a recommendation from the Education Inspectorate to Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Anđela Jakšić Stojanović.

During an inspection conducted at the end of April, it was revealed that Spahić’s license to work in schools had expired a year prior. The former principal confirmed that “the factual situation had been accurately assessed” at that time.

However, on social media, Spahić announced yesterday morning that his dismissal was “politically motivated and institutionally endorsed,” sharing a photo of the license issued on May 5. The Institute has stated that the document he published will be invalidated, and his application for a work permit from May 5 will be denied due to “untimeliness and non-compliance with the required conditions.”

“Spahić submitted his license renewal application to the Institute for Education on May 5, when he was retroactively granted a license. The acting officials issued this license unlawfully, despite the application being submitted late. According to Article 2025 of the Regulation concerning the conditions, processes, and methods for issuing and renewing work permits for teachers, directors, and assistant directors of educational institutions, Spahić was required to submit a renewal application eight days before the previous license’s expiration on July 18. Additionally, he did not present a valid license as stipulated in the aforementioned Regulation (as his license had expired),” the Institute explained to “Vijesti.”

They indicated that the officials “who unlawfully issued the license to Spahić have been asked to provide an explanation in accordance with internal procedures, and appropriate measures will be enacted to determine accountability in accordance with the Law on Civil Servants and State Employees.”

Spahić claimed on his Facebook page that the Minister of Education “made a rush decision to dismiss him without verifying the facts or conducting a hearing,” leaving him jobless despite being “a father of three minors, with extensive experience in education and a clean record.”

The Ministry of Education responded to “Vijesti” yesterday, stating that Spahić’s claims are “unfounded and tendentious.”

“The decision to dismiss was based on verified facts—Spahić did not possess a valid license to work in an educational institution, nor a license for training as a director of an educational institution. These facts are evidently known to Spahić, as they were conveyed to him during the inspection on April 29 this year. This is corroborated by his own statement on the inspection report, which he personally signed: ‘I declare that I have no objections to report number UPIN 01-749/25-274/2, nor to the inspector’s actions or the established facts,’ end quote.”

The Ministry of National Education and Research affirmed that it is clear he was dismissed for illegal actions, adding that “other actions taken by the former director will subject to other investigations.” They emphasized that the dismissal decision will not be revisited, and he will not be reinstated as director.

“… The Report on Determining the Quality of Educational Work of the Institute for Education and the Center for Vocational Education, among other things, indicated that Ersan Spahić received a general rating of ‘unsatisfactory’ regarding the quality of the manager’s work,” responded Jakšić Stojanović from the department.

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