Bosnian Education

By Brendan and Emma

Inquiry Question
How is education in Bosnia different than education in the
United States?

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Democracy with President and Prime Minister
3,000,000 people
Independent from Yugoslavia since 1991
44% Muslim, 31% Serbs, 17% Croats
In 1992, rebel Serbs had taken over 60% of the country. Thousands of NATO
soldiers were sent in to help gain back the country. Between 1992 and 1995,
250,000 people had died. NATO was sent in to keep the peace.
In 2001, a Serb general was found guilty of killing 8,000 Muslims.
In(Bosnia,
2004, the
n.d.)EU replaced NATO.

Daily Schedule
Two shifts, one begins at 7:15 AM and the second begins at 1:15
Each lasts 6 hours, and the students are divided evenly between the two shifts
There are 6 classes in each shift
Classes are 45 minutes, with 5 minutes in between, and a 15 minute break
between 3rd and 4th periods so that students can eat

(Personal communication, April 26, 2016)

Elementary School
Begins at age 6
9 years are spent in elementary
Kindergarten is optional
Classes include math, Serbian, English, German, biology, geography, PE,
technical drawing, music, and physics

(Bosnia, 2006)

Middle School
Takes place after elementary, and before college
5 types
Economic
Technical
Music
Medical
Gimnazija (general education; similar to elementary school, but more
advanced)
(Personal
communication, April 26, 2016)
Classes are chosen by the students and will generally pertain to their school of

Interview
Did you enjoy school growing up?
When I was younger I thought it was bad, but now I see that was the best time of my life.

What do you think could be better about schools in Bosnia?

Well professors could explain lessons better. Like physics. I thought it is boring, but after I watched
Galileo (a German show) I found out it is really fun and I am more interested in it.

Do you think your education did a good job of preparing you for college?
Yes. Because I went to Tech school it was far easier for me to understand material that we learn
then someone who went to economic school or similar.

How do you think Bosnian education compares to education around the world?
I think we all have same lessons in elementary school, but again professors are responsible for what

Interview pt. 2
How have the wartime events of the 1990s impacted education?
Well, mostly because there was no money for schools, like things for chemistry or computers and
things like that. We got computers when I was 8 grade. And we have basics of informatics from
6 grade. That could be the main reason how war affected to education. But, technology has
begun to develop rapidly around that age. I think government tried not to affect education and
they wanted kids don't remember war.

Did it have a large impact on you on a personal level?

No. I live in place where is only Serbs, deep in Republic of Serbs. Maybe other kids had problems
with Muslims in areas where they all go to same school. I have friend who went in school like
that and in fact he has a lot of Muslim friends. So after war there is no problem between Serbs
and Muslims, that is fault of politicians. I also have Muslim friends and we play games together
and we never had problems and we don't want to talk about religions that way.

Report Card
Serbian
German
English
History
Geography
Physics
Math
Biology
Chemistry
Religious

References
(2006) Bosnia and Herezegovina Retrieved from:
http://www.euroeducation.net/prof/boherco.htm
Bosnia and Herezegovina (n.d.) Fact Monster Atlas Retrieved from:
http://www.factmonster.com/country/bosnia-and-herzegovina.html
(S. Pejcic, personal communication, April 26, 2016)