My name is Jugoslav. I barely have 20 kilos. I don't have a best friend. I am used to rain, snow, hills and wind (PHOTO)

When school yards full up with children shouting and cheering on 1st September, and the bells mark the beginning of the class, they are ringing for only one preschooler in the Class in Gornja Bela Reka. The classroom of Elementary School "Vuk Karadzic" from Jasenovo near Nova Varos would be closed without Jugoslav Removic. The survival of the school has fallen on the shoulders of this five-year-old, reports "Novosti".

The most beautiful news for future parents: 850 euros for the first baby!

Recommended

Everything is ready in the room of little Jugoslav, few days before going to pre-school. A work desk and chair, lamp and new pencil bag.

Crayons on the shelves, notebooks, books... Ironed shirt and trousers on the chair. And the backpack, too big and too heavy for this lad of 135 centimeters high and almost 20 kilos.

- We are all happy for him starting the preschool, we will celebrate, but at the same time I am sad because I know he will be alone there - said Jugoslav's father Milan Removic.

- I went to the same school, but everything was different during the eighties. My Jugic probably doesn't even know what awaits him, and he won't experience many things as a pupil. He won't have a best friend, he won't have anyone to share his lunch with, his first crush... We still hope that the girl that finished her second grade her won't transfer to the base school in Jasenovac and that our son will have her at least for the company - the father is worried.

There would be just another pupil from the fourth grade with her in Jasenovac school.

Foto: Telegarf

Little Jugoslav will put in a great effort to preserve school bell of the 7 decades old institution, he will cross 6 kilometers every day to there and back. On foot.

- It won't be hard for him to walk until the snow falls, he is a lively, curious hard working child - said mother Ljiljana for "Novosti".

He is used on forest roads, hills, and valleys, rain, and winds.

- The snow, however, is worrying us, it can fall up to two meters high. We will fight in every way to keep going to school. His sister Milica will join him in three years - mother Ljiljana said.

Few families in these parts of south west Serbia are sharing the Removic fate as well, who decided to remain in the village and to do agriculture.

Serbia has lost 34 large schools in the past 7 years. Around 34.500 fewer pupils have started the school than in 2010/2011. Almost 100 village schools were working on just one pupil last year.

Foto: Profimedia

- We got used to the fates like this, unfortunately, and the situation is similar in the other classes of our school in villages. No matter the number of children, our base school, and three one-room schools are completely ready to welcome the pupils. Each of them has the modern equipment for modern classes and great teachers. Those education workers are great enthusiasts - said Dusica Popovic, principal of the elementary school "Vuk Karadzic" in Jasenovo.

19 children in four schools 

- All three one-school schools and base school are attended by a total of 14 pupils and five pre-schoolers - said the principal, Dusica Popovic.

- The most critical situation is in Gornja Bela Reka, where we have only Jugoslav. Four pupils in Kucani and one in pre-school, and one pupil from the fourth grade will come to Jasenovo. Her parents haven't decided whether he or Jugoslav will get a friend. The best situation is in Donja Bela Reka for now, there are eight pupils and three preschoolers in there - said the principal, Dusica Popovic.

The choice 

- Although we live in Jasenovo, four grades school in Gornja Bela Reka is closer to us than the mother school. Jugic traveled almost eight kilometers from the Jasenovac class, so we decided for Gornja Bela Reka, because it is closer for one and a half kilometer - said Milan Removic.

(Telegraf.co.uk / Novosti / photo: illustration)