Serbia

Education in Serbia

Maya Nikolova

In central Serbia, a period of national liberation commenced at the beginning of the 19th century with the First Uprising and the creation of the new national state. Serbian Government became increasingly concerned about the state of the country’s education system and as such, previous Church domination in education ceased to exist. The first Minister of Education was Dositej Obradovic and, in 1808, he founded the first school for higher education in Belgrade, the later University of Belgrade, and a seminary (1810). During this period, reading textbooks and the extensive use and reference to church manuscripts, such as prayer books, psalm books and catechisms were utilised for the teaching of reading and writing.

Systematic work on the organisation and development of the Serbian educational system for the middle-classes began with the emergence of the modern civil state during the second half of 19th century. The expansion of elementary schools gradually spread across Serbia with the eventual development of further education institutes and the founding of lyceums which were then developed into universities through advanced schooling. The Law on Elementary Schools from 1863 created a more favourable environment for the opening of new schools and allowed for development and improvement in teaching methods and training and education of teaching staff. Obradovic determined that elementary education teaching catechism, reading, writing, arithmetic and singing was not to be mandatory but he – himself – categorically decided on the textbooks and teaching methods to be implemented by teachers.

The first high school, which operated at the educational level of a grammar school, opened in Belgrade in 1830. А detailed curriculum was created in 1845 which dedicated ample time to the social sciences with didactic and methodical instructions concerning the teaching of all subjects. Almost two decades later, the Law on the Organisation of Grammar Schools was passed in 1863, which made definitive organisational and content-wise modifications to the curricula to reflect the possibilities and needs of the nation of that time. Grammar school education lasted six years and its main purpose was to prepare and encourage students for further academic studies. Revolutionary developments of the natural sciences and general technological advancements at the time also influenced teaching content and this allowed students to study experimental physics, chemistry, mechanics, and practical geometry alongside geometric drawing.

The outbreak of the First World War and the subsequent occupation of Serbia interrupted any further developments in education. During the first decade of its educational involvement, the State searched for innovative ways to harmonise the initial elementary education system and linked its relevance to other areas of social life. Considering the timing of such an education revolution, this period was under a great influence of several prominent national and foreign educational innovators, which allowed a more inclusive schooling system to be established with the creation of elementary and grammar schools. The primary aim of an elementary school was to prepare students to be moral, loyal, and active members of the society, through instruction and education. Conversely, the aims of grammar schools went more towards developing general abilities in students and help guide them towards certain vocations while individual scientific improvement was facilitated to allow for access to higher education institutions and universities. These two types of schools helped to create and maintain an educated society and new social order in Serbia.

Word: School types

Number: 1863