Ban Mažuranić and the school reform in the second half of the 19th Century

Abstract

In the second half of the nineteenth century the Croatian lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Many reforms had been implemented in European territory for the requirements of a new civil society. After the Croatian-Hungarian Settlement conditions were established to start with the first autonomous educational reform. As all other reforms it was implemented by Ivan Mažuranić, Ban of Croatia. He selected experts to draw up laws. The 1874 Act on Primary Schools and Preparatory Schools was passed after public debates and approval of the Parliament and Emperor. The educational reform has been implemented since 1875. In accordance with the principles of secularization and democratization the law stipulates many provisions regarding schools, teachers, pupils, curricula, syllabi and class teaching. Although the implementation was encountered by challenges, this law has introduced many positive changes, and was to influence a future development of the schooling system and society in general.