FMON comments on controversial textbook: Just to note, it was approved in 2008!?

(Patria) - We want to express our gratitude to all media outlets that have shown interest in this important educational topic today, said the Federal Ministry of Education and Science.

"Given the widespread interest, we want to emphasize that the FMON has already recognized the issue of poor, outdated, and incorrect textbooks in our education system. This case, which is in focus today, is unfortunately not an isolated incident.

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Kapidžić quoted scandalous claims from the textbook that BiH is a 'state community': This calls for resignations, this is an attack on the state

(Patria) - SDA MP in the Sarajevo Canton Assembly Faruk Kapidžić spoke at the continuation of today's session of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly about a scandalous claim in the book 'Society' by author Enisa Kulašin, which is used as a mandatory textbook for fifth graders in elementary schools

It is important to note that teaching students should by no means be solely focused on textbooks. Textbooks are just one of many textual teaching resources available to teachers to prepare and deliver effective lessons. Given that teachers are experts in their fields, we are confident that they are capable of recognizing material errors and will correct them in their lesson plans," say the FMON.

They also note that the textbook 'Društvo' for the 5th grade of elementary school, published by
'Bosanska knjiga' Sarajevo, was approved on June 24, 2008, as part of the Public Call for the procurement of manuscripts of textbooks and workbooks for the 5th grade of nine-year elementary school, which was published on January 17, 2008.

"All cantons have given their consent for its use. In the Sarajevo Canton, consent for its use was given by Minister Safet Kešo, and the signature on the approval was placed by the Federal Minister of Education and Science, Meliha Alić. The FMON is currently preparing a package of textbooks that will undergo a careful super-review process.

A decision to remove it from the List of approved textbooks, workbooks, and other teaching materials cannot be made without seeking the opinion of super-reviewers. When forming a three-member super-reviewer team for a particular textbook, care is taken to include representatives of practicing teachers and, if possible, methodologists for the specific subject from universities, with at least ten years of teaching experience. In the event that the Ministry, at the proposal of the Coordination, decides to remove a textbook from the List, reviewers who have given positive assessments of the textbook cannot be engaged in these tasks anymore.

If the existing textbooks prove to be inadequate, we will propose that all of them be withdrawn from the list of approved textbooks. We will advocate for the issue of textbooks and textbook selection policy to be on the agenda of the ministries of education of all cantons as well as the FMON, in order to ensure quality education for all our students. It is also important to reinstate the Sector for Textbook Policies in the FMON, which was abolished by the policy of the previous Government of the FBiH.

Until then, we appeal to teachers to correct and report any errors noticed in teaching materials to the competent ministry before using them in their teaching activities," they add in the statement.