New school year begins

(Patria) - The new school year has officially begun in Bosnia and Herzegovina today, with numerous younger and older students returning to classrooms for the first time after the summer break in primary and secondary schools.

As in previous years, large crowds were observed around schoolyards in Sarajevo, as well as in other cities, and many parents and children will have their first encounter with school today, which is certainly one of the most important events for both parents and first-graders.

Ahead of the start of the school year, cantonal and entity authorities have also secured funds to provide free textbooks for students from the first to the ninth grade.

-Canton Sarajevo: Prime Minister Uk and Minister Hota-Muminović wish a happy and successful start to the new school year-

On the occasion of the beginning of the 2024/2025 school year, the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton, Nihad Uk, and the Minister of Education and Upbringing of CS, Naida Hota-Muminović, sent a message to all students, teachers, education workers, and parents, wishing them a happy and successful start to the new school year.

Prime Minister Uk wished all students that this be a year of joy in learning and socializing, without unnecessary stress or any other problems.

"This period represents the beginning of a new chapter in your lives, filled with numerous opportunities for learning, exploration, and growth. I know how important it is to have a pleasant and motivating learning environment, and that is why I am particularly pleased that our Government has ensured that many of you start the new school year in renovated school buildings, equipped with modern, energy-efficient solutions and updated inventory. Many of you will have the opportunity to use new physics and chemistry labs, and learn in spaces with refreshed LED lighting, which creates a more pleasant atmosphere for work and play. To all of you who still see scaffolding around the school, I want to encourage you to be patient. The work is in progress and is a sign that your school space is also being prepared to become even better and of higher quality, providing you with everything you need for successful development," emphasized Prime Minister Uk.

He extended special congratulations to first-graders and first-year high school students, who are embarking on a new, important life journey.

"The first steps can be exciting and challenging, but believe me, every step in life brings new friends, new knowledge, and incredible experiences that will shape you and help you grow into happy and successful young people. I wish you a successful school year, full of new discoveries and beautiful moments! Learn, explore, ask questions, and never stop being curious. Create memories and friendships that will be your support in the years to come," said Prime Minister Uk.

Minister Hota-Muminović stated that dedicated and committed work yields inevitable results, and that the most beautiful part of working in education lies in the opportunities we create for our students and in monitoring their development. She emphasized that changes in education happen daily and that intensive work is being done to create higher quality content, both in teaching and in extracurricular activities.

"School must be a vibrant place, attractive and competitive compared to everything offered to students outside of it. It is necessary for the school to open its doors and proactively involve the family – parents, grandfathers, grandmothers, grandmothers – in school activities. Our vision is for the school to become a place of meeting where everyone feels welcome. The Ministry of Education and Upbringing of Sarajevo Canton has invested significant funds in improving school spaces, procuring equipment and didactic materials. The transformation and regeneration of school spaces are key to creating an environment that supports student success and their overall well-being," said Minister Hota-Muminović, highlighting the importance of early identification of risk factors and the development of support programs for at-risk students.

"These programs are the backbone for building a safe society in a community that cares about mental health. Sarajevo Canton continues to be a leader in expanding preschool education coverage for children, improving the inclusion of children with disabilities, and organizing activities such as the March of Peace, in which students participated in an organized manner for the first time," said the minister, expressing deep gratitude to all education workers, the Institute for the Development of Pre-University Education, her colleagues in the Ministry, and everyone who has selflessly supported these efforts. She particularly highlighted the students, saying: "Our children motivate us to do our job better."

Finally, Minister Hota-Muminović expressed solidarity with the children and educators in Gaza, whose education is systematically being destroyed. We will teach children to raise their voices against all evil and to be advocates for peace and justice, because these ideals belong to all people in the world.

"I wish all students, teachers, and parents a successful and inspiring school year, from which we will joyfully reap the fruits of our labor, for our children and our homeland Bosnia and Herzegovina," concluded Minister Hota-Muminović.

In Sarajevo Canton, classes begin on September 2nd in 79 primary and 44 secondary schools for a total of 53,500 students, of which 38,400 are primary school students and 15,100 are high school students. Approximately 4,300 first-graders have also enrolled. Additionally, over 9,500 children have enrolled in kindergartens this year, which is the highest number to date.

4,310 students have enrolled in the first grade of high school, which is an increase of 150 compared to the previous year.

This year, Sarajevo Canton is also providing scholarships for students enrolling in in-demand professions, as well as for students who achieved notable results in knowledge competitions during their primary education.

The first semester of the 2024/2025 school year lasts until Tuesday, December 31, 2024, when the winter break begins, lasting until January 28, 2025. The second semester begins on January 29, 2025.

-3,500 first-graders start the school year in Tuzla Canton-

In Tuzla Canton, the new school year begins today, September 2nd, and approximately 3,500 first-graders will sit in classrooms for the first time.

In the most populous canton of the Federation of BiH, there are a total of 34,000 students, of whom 14,000 attend secondary schools.

Classes in the first semester begin on the first working day of September, i.e., today, and end on Monday, December 30, 2024 (86 working days).

The Government and the relevant ministry have again this year provided free textbooks for all primary school students from the first to the ninth grade.

For students from the 1st to the 5th grade, completely new textbooks and workbooks have been procured. For some students attending classes from the 6th to the 9th grade, 50% of new textbooks have been procured, and the other 50% are well-preserved textbooks used last year.

The Assembly of Tuzla Canton recently adopted the initiative of the parliamentary commission for education and science to create lockers for all primary school students from the first to the fifth grade in the upcoming school year.

A novelty in the new school year is the opportunity for primary and secondary school students to attend the "Bosančica" section.

In this context, the Pedagogical Institute of Tuzla Canton organized professional development for teachers and professors who will lead this section in their schools.

Bosančica is more than just an ordinary script, emphasize the relevant ministry, as it is a symbol of our cultural heritage.

"The charters of Bosnian bans and kings are written in it, and now our students will have the opportunity to learn about this important period of our history. Learning Bosančica is not just about acquiring new skills, but also an act of connecting with the roots of our country," state the Ministry of Education and Science.

The new school year in Tuzla Canton will begin with the singing of the anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina in all schools.