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Croatian School System in 20th Century

Štefka Batinić orcid.org/0000-0002-0001-0976

Sažetak

This paper deals with innovations (changes) being introduced into Croatian school system in 20th century. By school system the regular way of education, i.e. educational grades, duration of such education and age of school attendants is understood. Pedagogic innovations (new pedagogic concepts, methods of education etc.), changes of aims, tasks and subject–matter of education as well as of the whole system of education are not the topics of this paper.
In 20th century in Croatia prevailed two basic systems of education. First, established in the period of Austria–Hungary Empire on the base of the first School Act of 1874 and slightly changed by the second School Act of 1888 and by the Public School Act of 1929 was in use almost till the middle of the century. The pre–school education was not compulsory. Kindergartens in major cities were mainly run in private arrangements. Primary schools were divided in lower primary schools (4 years) and higher primary schools (3–4 years). The compulsory education started at the age of 7 and continued for 5 years of primary school and 2–3 years of so called “repetitive classes” (for school–children braking off the education the fourth class was extended over the period of two years). Others, continuing education could after finishing the primary school enrol the higher primary school (since 1894 higher primary schools were extended by the scientific orientation, i.e. by curriculum of scientific schools), gymnasium or gymnasium with scientifi c curriculum. After graduating the higher primary school or lower gymnasium enrolment in teachers’ training school (four years) or in secondary vocational schools was stipulated by passing the leaving exam. The primary school system (including civic schools and teachers’ training schools in Dalmatia and Istria was regulated by regional Acts and
regulations issued on the base of School Act of 1869. After disintegration of Austrian–Hungarian Empire and after the first World War Croatia became the part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (since 1929 The Kingdom of Yugoslavia). Ten years were needed to
this country to issue the new unifi ed School Act. School Acts of 1929 (about national schools, secondary schools and teachers’ training schools and of 1931 about civic schools) did not essentially eff ect the formal status of school system in Croatia. The proclaimed compulsory eight years education (4 years of elementary school and four years of higher national school or civic school or gymnasium) was a dead letter as government did not provide conditions for
introducing the Act or any measures to sanction the avoiding of this compulsory measure. By Act about teachers’ training schools training of teachers was expanded over the period of five years. In the period of NDH (Independent State of Croatia) the formal structure of school system in Croatia was not changed because the urgent reaction of Ministry of teaching was basically turned towards changing the subject–matter and education components. After the Second World War Croatia again became the part of a new state (Yugoslavia), in which the old “dual, bourgeois and non–democratic” school system was abolished. The basic change was longer compulsory education – in 1946 the Law about 7 years compulsory education was issued, and in 1951 the Law abut national schools prescribes eight year compulsory education. Gradually, the eight years primary school was formed by uniting the primary school and lower gymnasium (gymnasium became a four years school with possibility of enrolment after graduating the primary school), or by expanding the four years primary school, with some transient six years
primary school in the period from 1951 to 1954. The new, General School Act about schools of 1958 defi ned the school system upon some reforms legal eight years compulsory primary education, introducing pre–school education in school system, introducing gymnasium as four years school with several profi les, enlarged possibilities of enrolment into higher and high schools and universities, abolishing step by step the teachers training schools and establishing the pedagogic academies. In seventies the reform of secondary school education was made (so called Šuvar reform, based upon decisions of X congress of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia). Secondary schools education was organised in two grades – the preparatory (common base of teaching plan and programme) and the final grade. The fi rst generation was enrolled in reformed secondary school system in the school year 1975/76. In eighties the reform of secondary school system was seriously criticised. Some sporadic interventions and corrections could not improve basically bad concept and in 1989 and 1990 deep changes were made
with introducing (returning) gymnasiums and vocational schools. In the decade of independent Croatia no important changes in formal structure of Croatian school system was made (concept of changes of 1990 was worked out and accepted) because such innovations ask for the well thought over plan including phsychological and pedagogical base, support of society and great financial means.

Ključne riječi

Hrčak ID:

334748

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/334748

Datum izdavanja:

31.12.2003.

Podaci na drugim jezicima: hrvatski

Posjeta: 1.449 *