Serbian schools to close early for winter break amid anti-corruption protests

Vui government seeks to stop unrest over Novi Sad canopy collapse spreading to secondary education sector

Schools across Serbia will close for the winter holidays a week earlier than planned this year as the government of the nationalist president, Aleksandar Vui, seeks to stop anti-corruption protests that have gripped universities from spreading to the secondary education sector.

The education minister, Slavica uki Dejanovi, announced on Friday that primary and secondary schools across the country would close from Tuesday, rather than Monday 30 December, citing concerns over the safety and quality of children's education amid the stop, Serbia" protests.