Learning about a foreign country’s school system can seem daunting. You are not alone. This article is here to guide you through the Serbian school system and explain different levels of education and some of the most common vocabulary you will need to cruise through it with ease.
Osnovna škola - Serbian Middle School
First, we have to start with the middle school experience, or osnovna škola.
The most important entry information about the middle school system in Serbia:
- Children start it at 6 or 7 years of age
- It lasts for 8 years in total
- It is divided into two cycles (more information on that later)
- It is obligatory for every child
Now that we’ve got the basics covered, we must delve into explaining the first and second cycles of middle school education in Serbia to make this all as comprehensible as possible.
Prvi ciklus obrazovanja - First cycle of education
Prvi ciklus (first cycle) of middle school education lasts for 4 years, from 1st to 4th grade. This is when children are taught by one teacher – učitelj or učiteljica. Sometimes there is an exception, and a different teacher teaches subjects like PE and/or English language. Učitelj(ica) is there to follow the children through their adaptation process from preschool/kindergarten through the initial stages of school and the changes that come along with it.
In their first 4 years of middle school, children learn to write and read (both Cyrillic and Latin letters), and besides the regular subjects like Likovna kultura (Art), Fizičko i zdravstveno vaspitanje (PE), and Matematika (Mathematics), they have subjects such as Digitalni svet (Digital world), Priroda i društvo (Nature and community), Građansko vaspitanje (Civil education)…
Drugi ciklus obrazovanja - Second cycle of education
In the second cycle, children are no longer with their učitelj(ica), but the person that is guiding them in the next stage of their school experience is someone we call razredni starešina, or more informally: razredni, razredna. This nastavnik, nastavnica (teacher) usually teaches the class a subject throughout the next 4 years of the second cycle. Think of it like this: while učitelj is with their students for a whole day, razredni starešina is there whenever they have a class with the students, and during Čas odeljenskog starešine (ČOS).
Čas odeljenskog starešine is held once a week and is designed for the students to start discussions and open conversations with their razredni starešina. It is an opportunity for a peaceful atmosphere where they can raise concerns, where the teacher can establish rules, speak on important matters, or simply use that time ot get to know their class better.
At the end of their 8th year of middle school, students of Serbian schools have to do a set of examinations called mala matura. Mala matura, as of now, consists of three separate parts or exams:
- Serbian language and literature
- Mathematics
- One chosen Science subject: History, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography
Students take those tests in June over three separate days. Matura is necessary to obtain the diploma of completed middle school education and to collect points for enrollment in high school. The higher the score, the better and more desirable a high school they can get into.
Srednja škola - Serbian High School
High school education in Serbia lasts for 3 to 4 years, depending on the type of school you choose and career path you want to take. Serbian high school enrollment competition is extremely high. Here is how scoring on the rang lista (rank lists) works:
- Children can get up to 40 points from their GPAs – average grade from grades 5-8
- And up to 60 points from mala matura (20 per exam)
That would make you believe that 100 is the maximum amount of points one can make. Well, no. The ambitious students participate in state competitions in different subjects, and if they manage to achieve great results, they can get a certain number of additional points, scoring them higher on the ranking board. So, yeah, the competition is high.
- Gimnazija (opšti, prirodni, društveni smer) – for achieving general knowledge in all areas of study, choosing their field, and enrolling in a University
- Ekonomska škola – School of Economics for fields like Economics technician, Tourism, Culinary…
- Tehnička škola – Technical school for engineering, constructing, building, drawing…
- Elektrotehnička škola – Electrotechnical school for programming, hardware, software, telecommunications…
- Građevinska škola – Construction school for engineering, building, protection…
- Saobraćajna škola – School of transport for conducting, building vehicles, transport…
- Poljoprivredna škola – Agriculture school for veterinary careers, agriculture fields…
- and more.
Key Takeaways
- Prvi ciklus obrazovanja – 1st to 4th grade of middle school
- Drugi ciklus obrazovanja – 5th to 8th grade of middle school
- Učitelj, učiteljica – a teacher that works with students from prvi ciklus
- Razredni starešina (razredni, razredna) – a teacher that works with students from drugi ciklus
- Nastavnik, nastavnica – a subject teacher (Nastavnik matematike, nastavnica muzičkog)
- Čas odeljenskog starešine – a class with razredni starešina to speak with the class more deeply or create a connection
- Mala matura – set of examinations at the end of 8th grade
- Rang lista – rank list that students score on depending on the number of points they get from their GPAs and mala matura
Need More Help?
If you are a parent and want to help your child adapt to the Serbian school system more easily, or you are just a curious cat, we offer a wide range of lessons you can take and better your Serbian. In our classes, we focus on the spoken aspect of the language most, with practices, dialogues, and conversations that will help in your everyday life. Contact us today, and book your lesson in just a few clicks! We are waiting for you!
