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Article 14 1. The Parties undertake to recognize that every person belonging to a national minority has the right to learn his or her minority language. 2. In areas inhabited by persons belonging to a national minority traditionally or in substantial numbers, if there is sufficient demand, the Parties shall endeavor to ensure, as far as possible and within the framework of their education systems, that persons belonging to those minorities have adequate opportunities for being taught the minority language or for receiving instruction in this language. 3. Paragraph 2 of this article shall be implemented without prejudice to the learning or the official language or the teaching of this language.
Paragraph 1.
From the jurisdiction of the Ministry o Education and Sport Answers are given as part of Article 12. From the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Science and Technology The Teacher Training College in Pula organizes and executes teaching programs in the Italian language. The courses are: teacher and educator of preschool children, and studying the Italian language and literature. At the faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb some of the languages of the national minorities are taught as separate as described in the narrative unit of Article 12 par. 2. The legislative unit cited with Article 12 par. 2 also applies to this Article.
Legal unit cited under Article 12.
(Cited under Article 12.)
(Cited under Article 12.)
(Cited under Article 12.)
Paragraph 2
From the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education and Sport The level of development of preschool institutions, elementary schools and high schools, and even institutions of higher education is different in different national minorities although they all have the same legal possibilities. The level of development of educational institutions is defined by different factors: beginning with the number of members of a certain minority, their concentration in some smaller region (or place) so that teaching can be organized, up to a whole list of other factors which had in the past and still have today a great influence on the fact whether schooling can be organized in the mother country language of the national minority, or other adequate forms of teaching and cultural activities should be developed. Particularities of each national minority caused the development of different forms of teaching and the implementation of different additional teaching programs. Teaching is performed through four models: 1. A teaching program which includes, apart from the subject matter and school conducted in the Croatian language, additional subject matter in their mother country language, literature, history, geography and art and music. Everything is taught in the mother country language,: 2. The teaching program includes all the elements as in number 1, but teaching is conducted bilingualy (in Croatian and the mother country language): 3. The teaching program consists of studying the mother country language, culture and history of the said national minority as optional subjects. 4. The teaching program which is implemented through summer schools, consists of the basic subject matter in the mother country language, culture and history of the national minority. The students are able to master this program during the summer vacation, usually in 15 days. The choice of the curriculum which will be taught in the schools for national minorities depends on the choices parents of the students .who are members of the national minorities, make. Those choices are accepted by the authorized County Office. The Ministry of Education and Sport gives its agreement congruently to the existing- legal provisions. Which model and forms of teaching shall be implemented in particular schools that students members of the national minorities attend, are regulated by the statute of the school. Students, members of those national minorities that don't have additional teaching organized, attend the same schools as students of Croatian nationality without any problems, and under the same conditions.
Legislative unit cited under Article 12.
Cited with Article 12.
Funds for teachers salaries and other employees of the school, and all other expenses necessary for the regular functioning of the school are allocated in accordance with the standards and criteria which are defined for schools taught in the Croatian language as well. For the so called enlarged expenses of schooling of the national minorities ( seminars for teachers, bilingual school documentation, publishing costs for textbooks, etc.) the Ministry of Education and Sport insured 3,200.00 kuna in 1998. In 1997 and 1998, apart from the regular funds necessary for the regular maintenance of school buildings, funds were acquired for the building of a School Center in Osijek for members of the Hungarian national minority. Elementary School in Josipovac for members of the Slovak national minority, the expansion of the elementary school "J.akomensky" in Daruvar for the needs of the Czech national minority, and a decision was made to build a new high school in Pula for the members of the Italian national minority. The greatest part of the funds for these schools was insured in 1998. Part of the funds are acquired through the mother countries of national minorities, except for the Center in Osijek for which the funds are fully supplied by the Republic of Croatia. The school in Josipovac is finished and in use, and the school in Daruvar is in its final faze. Some funds for the needs of schools teaching in the languages of national minorities are supplied by the local government and self-government. The Ministry on Education and Sport does not have the exact sum of this funds, since such data is not collected. Representatives of national minorities that have organized teaching in their mother country language project a need for educational counselors from their ranks in order to give expert counseling to schools and teachers. In the legislative proposal of the Law on Education in the languages of national minorities which the Government of the Republic of Croatia referred to the Croatian Parliament for discussion and enactment and is expected to pass, it is regulated as an obligation of the Ministry of Education and Sport to fulfill that request. The Law is expected to pass.
Teachers that teach in schools in minority languages are schooled and trained in the Republic of Croatia as well as in the mother country. In accord with legal provisions, and former experiences, teaching in these schools is performed by teachers which are members of the same national minorities as the students attending school, only rarely .if such are not available teachers who are proficient in the language of the relevant minority are engaged although they don't belong to the same group. These provisions apply to the school Principle. In general it can be said that professional representation of teachers in schools of national minorities is satisfactory and improving each year, although not amongst all national minorities (e.g. Rutthenians- Ukrainians). There is a great deficit for teachers, for example in the Italian national minority caused, among other factors by smaller wages in the Republic of Croatia than in the Republic of Slovenia and the Italian Republic. Because of that some teachers which are Croatian citizens have left Croatia and found jobs in the above mentioned countries, causing a great need for a certain number of elementary school teachers and professors in high schools with tuition in the Italian language. This problem is being solved by temporarily engaging the needed number of teachers from the Italian Republic, after going through the legislated procedure for employing foreigners. After the reintegration of the schooling system in the Croatian region of Podunavlje into the Croatian School System a new net work of schools have been made for this region for the needs of national minorities: Hungarians, Ruthenians, Ukrainians, Slovaks, Serbs; Germans and Austrians. Members of the above mentioned national minorities, except Serbs which till 1991 didn't have separate schools, expressed their desire and need to have a network of educational institutions in that region, in which teaching would be conducted in their language in the places and forms (models) in which it existed till the year 1991. Members of the German and Austrian minority have expressed their wish for the first time, for organizing and conducting bilingual schooling for their members, it has been achieved. Some of the national minorities have developed educational institutions (kindergartens, elementary and high schools) in accordance with their projected needs. From the data given below it is clear that the level of development of these institutions is different, and that each minority develops that educational level and forms of teaching which best meets the needs other minority. Italians a) Children members of the Italian national minority attend 24 kindergartens in which work with the children is organized and conducted in the Italian language :they include 745 children, and 39 teachers that work with them. b) Teaching in the Italian language is conducted in 17 elementary schools, 11 are central schools and 6 are regional departments: 2285 students attend these schools in 62 classes, while the tuition is conducted by 175 primary teachers. c) There are 4 high schools. Teaching is conducted in the Italian language for 852 students; they can enroll in about ten educational programs; 148 professors are employed in these schools. Primary teachers and professors that work in these schools attend different kinds of seminars for professional improvement in Italy or the Republic of Croatia. d) At the Teacher Training College in Pula there are three Departments taught in Italian (class teaching studies, Italian language and preschool educational study). There are 46 students enrolled in these studies. The department for publishing textbooks for the needs of the Italian national minorities is part of the Newspaper - Publishing Institution "Edit" in Rijeka. Each year they publish 10 - 15 textbook titles, some original some translated from the Croatian language into the Italian language. Czechs a) For the needs of the Czech national minorities there are 2 kindergartens in which the Czech language is used in working with the children; they are attended by 160 children and employ 6 kindergarten teachers. b) Teaching in the Czech language is performed in 4 elementary schools which are attended by 456 students; there are 7 additional schools in which Czech language and culture are taught in order to preserve their national identity c) Czech language and culture is taught in one high school. It is attended by 30 students in Daruvar. The Newspaper- Publishing Institution "Jednota" in Daruvar r works for the needs of the Czech national minority Apart from printing news papers it also publishes textbooks for the Czech national minority. In the year 1998 it published five textbook titles. For the needs of training primary teachers and professors of the Czech language there is a special Department at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb. Teachers attend professional training in the Czech Republic and attend adequate seminars in the Republic of Croatia. Slovaks Students that are members of the Slovak national minority attend schools in the Croatian language and study their mother country language additionally. They also study subject matter from their history and culture. Teaching was performed in four schools and attended by 490 students in the school year of 1998/99. Since the school year 1997/98 the Slovak language and culture have been taught in the elementary school in lick according to the Croatian Teaching Program. Primary school teachers are educated in the republic of Croatia and the Slovak Republic. They attend a professional training seminar on the Slovak language and culture every year in the Slovak Republic. This was stipulated by an Agreement between the Republic of Croatia and the Slovak Republic. Hungarians The greatest number of the Hungarian national minority members live in the Baranje and East Slavonia area. These areas where under occupation, so classes had to be canceled for students of this national minority that stayed in the area. The possibility of organizing classes in Hungarian arose only after the process of reintegration of that are into the Constitutional-Legislative System took place. In 1998 there were two elementary schools (Zmajevac and Lug) and four district schools (Suza., Kotlina ,Vardarac and Kopacevo) in the area of the Osjecko- Baranjske county. All classes were taught in the Hungarian language except classes in the Croatian language. The school was attended by 243 students. Organizing and conducting all classes in the Hungarian language was planned in the town of Korod, Vukovarska Srijemska County, in which such classes existed until 1991. During the occupation of the town classes were prohibited. The town is being rebuilt and the refugees are returning, so there are plans to reopen schools again during the year of 1999. For the members of the Hungarian national minority bilingual classes are organized (in the Croatian and Hungarian language), in two kindergartens in Osijek and Zagreb which are attended by 45 children, and in three elementary schools (Osijek, Novi Bezda, Zagreb), which are attended by 46 students. In 17 elementary schools which students members of the Hungarian national minority attend by choice of their parents in addition to classes in the Croatian language students attend classes in Hungarian and study Hungarian culture. Theses classes are attended by a large number of students from mixed marriages and two Croatian students that wish to learn Hungarian and get to know their culture. The number of students attending the above mentioned classes is 500-550. Up to 1991 only one school offered bilingual classes to high school students of the Hungarian national minority. About 30- 40 students attended those classes. In the year 1998, classes were organized in two high schools (Beli Manastir and Osijek), and in 2 other trade schools in Belo Manastir about 80 students attended these schools. Since an educational center is being built in Osijek for the needs of the Hungarian minority (with a kindergarten, elementary school, high school and student housing) and it is expected to be in function by the middle of 1999, it was planned to transfer classes from the two high schools into the new educational center. The classes organized in the trade schools shall remain there. Members of the Hungarian national minority have the possibility of studying the Hungarian language at the faculty of Humanities and Social sciences in Zagreb. Classes teaching the Hungarian language at this University is attended by students of different nationalities. A large number of members of the Hungarian national minority attend Colleges in the Republic of Hungary on the basis of an Agreement on the Protection of the Croatian Minority in the Republic of Hungary and the Protection of the Hungarian Minority in the Republic of Croatia from 1996. An Agreement on educational and cultural cooperation is in the process of being signed. Each country provides 10 scholarships a year for members of their minority for different universities. It also provides different forms of cooperation in the field of professional training of the teachers (lectures, seminars, study travels etc.). Serbs For the members of the Serb national minority classes are organized and performed according to these models: 1. All classes are held in the Serbian language; classes in the Croatian language are obligatory (as an official language). 2. There are class departments in some schools in which classes are taught in the Serbian language, and the Croatian language is taught separately. There are also departments with classes in Croatian. 3. Classes are held in the Croatian language, with additional classes in the Serbian language, culture and history. All three models are in use in the Croatian area of Podunavlje which was under the temporary administration of UNTAS-a until Jan. 15 1998. Only the third model is used in areas that where not under occupation. Preparations for organizing and implementing the third educational model for members of the Serbian national minority began in 1996 when the process of developing teaching plans and programs for additional schooling began. In 1997 needed organizational preparations for the implementation of teaching through this model were accomplished in particular schools, as was writing of the textbooks needed for additional classes. All this was accomplished in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Sport and experts from the Serbian cultural association " Prosvjeta " in Zagreb. These classes have been held since 1997/98. In seven (7) schools, and are attended by approximately 250-300 elementary school students. In the recent past Associations of the Serbian national minority have expressed a desire to organize and conduct classes in some places where it has not been organized before (e.g. Zagreb, and others). Parents need to sign a statement regarding the choice of attending classes. The process of reintegrating the educational institutions (kindergartens, elementary schools and high schools) in the Croatian Podunavlje into the educational system of the Republic of Croatia began in 1997. The above mentioned process was burdened with many difficulties, which were gradually overcome through joint efforts of the Republic of Croatia, representatives of local Serbs and the help of the International Community and their representatives in that area. Apart from trauma and numerous difficulties caused by the war and occupation of that area many specific problems surfaced in the field of education, which needed solving, e.g.: a) The problem of hired teachers - many were without obligatory qualifications, some of them did not have formally recognized diplomas. Some of them became surplus because refuges from that area were returning to their former homes thus causing the number of students of the Serbian national minority to drop. At the same time a certain number of students of Croatian nationality were returning to area, as were Hungarians and members of other national minorities which required classes in their mother country language.. The existing hired teachers were not able to perform classes according to the above mentioned nor did the parents of students of other national minorities want them to;
Resolving this problem is possible by translating textbooks to the Serbian language in natural science subjects. The textbook with subject matter related to national differences should contain subject matter specified by additional teaching programs. The following school institutions of elementary schools and high schools which are attended by members of the Serbian national minority and in which classes are held in the Serbian language are in operation in the Croatian Podunavlje region in 1998/99. There are 8 elementary schools in the Osljecko - Baranjskoj region (Beli manastir, Darda, Jagodnjak, (with district departments Ugljes and Bolman), Knezevi Vinogradi (with a district department in Karanac) Bijelo Brdo, Dalj (with a district department in Erdut), Ernestinovo (with district departments in Sodovci and Palaca) and Tenja. 1436 students attend classes in these schools In the area of this county three schools organize additional classes in the Serbian language (the so called nourishing of the language and culture). These are in Dalj, Secerana and Popovac and are attended by 28 students. The Serbian language is used in two kindergartens (Beli Manastir - 37 children and Bjelo Brdo - 20 temporarily not in function). For the members of the Serbian national minority classes are held in their native language in four high schools (Middle School Beli manastir, First High School Beli Manastir, Second High School Beli manastir and the High School Dalj). Classes are attended by 329 students. The Serbian language is spoken in three kindergartens attended by 334 children in the area of Vukovarsko - Srijemska county. Classes in the Serbian language are held in six elementary schools and seven district departments Trpinja, IV. Elementary school Vukovar, Borovo, Bobota (with district departments Vera, Pacetin, Klisa and Ludvinci), Markusica (with district departments Gabos and Ostrovo) and Negoslavci (with a district department in Sviinjarevac. In the above mentioned schools classes are attended by 1663 students. In this county classes are held in the Serbian language in four high schools: The Middle School in Vukovar, and I., III. and IV. High School in Vukovar. The classes are attended by 1730 students. Germans and Austrians For members of the German and Austrian national minorities in Osijek a bilingual group in Croatian and German has been organized as part of the kindergarten "Mak". It is attended by 25 children. In addition, for these minorities, bilingual classes have been organized as part of the elementary school "Sveta Ana" in Osijek. These classes are attended by students of I., II., III. and IV grades of elementary schools. The classes are held by two primary school teachers, and are attended by 49 students. Ruthenians and Ukrainians A Summer School is organized every year for students of elementary schools and high schools, members of the Russinian and Ukrainian national minorities. The Summer School lasts two weeks, and is attended by about 180 students. All expenses are covered by the Ministry of Education and Sport, they include costs involved in organizing the classes, accommodation and meals, and travel costs Apart from classes held in the Summer School for students of the Russinian and Ukrainian national minorities, classes in which they study their home country language, and culture are also organized in their place of residence. These classes are held during the whole year in three towns(Lipovani, Vinkovci, Sumece).At the moment classes are not held at all or not held regularly in Zagreb, Slavonski Brad, and Osijek, due to an insufficient number of students or a deficit in teachers. The main reason for the low numbers as far as the students are concerned is that they live very far away from the location the classes are held at, so they have to be brought their by their parents. After the reintegration of earlier occupied areas of East Slavonia and West Srijem the Ruthenian and Ukrainian refugees are returning to their former place of residence and bringing back their children with them- today's students. The last preparations are in progress for starting with bilingual classes in Petrovci. They were expected to start at the end of January 1999 In addition to that there are plans to organize additional classes for students of the Ukrainian minority in Vukovar, probably in September 1999. Jews Kindergarten "Mirjam Weiler" operates as part of the Zagreb Jewish Municipality for the needs of the Jewish national minority. It is attended by 27 children. This municipality also holds courses that teach the Hebrew language and religion for students of elementary and high schools. Romanies The Ministry of Education and Sport and the Romany Associations of Croatia organize a Summer School each year under the name "Summer School of the Romany Children in Croatia''. All costs are covered by the Ministry of Education and Sport. The school is attended by about 100 elementary and high school students. Upon the recommendation of the Union of Romany Associations of Croatia a specific form of work with the Romany children has been organized. Students. Children from 7-10 years of age are being prepared for a successful start of class teaching, which they hadn't attended before. The schooling of Romany children is specific and encounters many problems not characteristic for other national minorities. Even today the main problem of Romany children is in not knowing the subject matter of their language and culture, but in not attending class teaching. That part of the Romanies is illiterate, and because of that have a harder time in becoming a part of a civilized society. Part of the Romany students are incorporated into the regular schooling system in the Croatian language, and successfully become part of the social environment in which they live.
Occasionally seminars are organized for teachers that work with Romany children, whether they are Romanies or not, with the purpose of enhancing their work. Papers on these issues are prepared and published for the seminar In the year 1998, the Government reserved special funds for the Program of integrating Romany children into the educational system of the Republic of Croatia.
School Religion Since the year 1991/92 schools have introduced confessional religion as an optional subject. Classes in this subject are performed according to programs suggested by religious associations and approved by the Ministry of Education and Sport, which is authorized in passing all teaching plans and programs. The teaching programs for School Religion are a result of proposals of many different religious associations. Namely: The Catholic Church, The Serbian Orthodox Church, The Islam Community The Advent Christian Church, The Baptist Church, The Evangelical Church, The Church of Jesus Christ Saints of the Last Day, The Jewish Synagogue, etc. Classes in Religion are taught in schools in the language of their national minorities according to the curriculum of the confession the students and parents belong to. Classes in school religion in elementary schools are attended by students based on their parents decision, in high schools the consent of the students is also required. Classes are organized for no less than 7 children of a certain religious community. In specially justified cases they can be organized for less than 7 students.
Classes are held by catechists which hold the required qualifications and are members of the given religious community. Students which attend classes in religion are graded in that subject. This is applied to the so called small religious communities. Parents of students in elementary schools that attend classes in religion can give a statement in the beginning of the school year in which they state that they do not want their children to attend these classes, in which case the obligation ceases. In the same manner a student that did not attend classes of school religion in the past year can attend them if the students parents or guardian require them to do so.
Since the school year 1995/96 a new subject. Ethics, is taught in high schools, as an alternative to school religion. Students freely choose one of the two classes.
Paragraph 3
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