TANASIĆ: PILOT PROGRAMME’S GOAL - ALIGNING CURRICULA WITH LABOUR MARKET

BANJA LUKA, JUNE 21 /SRNA/ – Four pilot vocational programmes and one pilot track in secondary-school education are currently being implemented in Republika Srpska in order to assess the possibility of their incorporation into the education system and to better align education with labour market demands, said Slađana Tanasić, Director of the Republika Srpska Pedagogical Institute.

Tanasić explained that the pilot programmes include dental technician, forensic technician, aircraft and engine aviation technician, agricultural machinery operator, as well as a sports track in grammar schools. “A proposal for second-year grammar school curricula for all educational tracks is currently being prepared. Expert teams are defining topics and learning outcomes that will enable and facilitate interdisciplinary connections, which should result in students acquiring functional knowledge,” Tanasić said in SRNA interview. Speaking about the results of the experimental lower primary school graduation exam, Tanasić stated that the objective was to assess the level of achievement and mastery of learning outcomes prescribed by the curricula for Serbian language, the language of the Bosniak people, and mathematics. “We are pleased to note that the participation rate among final-year primary school students is high. Regarding achievement levels in each tested subject, we conclude that results are significantly better than last year and represent a medium level of achievement,” Tanasić said. She added that she was also satisfied with the implementation of all prescribed procedures required for the experimental primary school graduation examination. SPECIAL ATTENTION TO BE GIVEN TO MARKING THE UNITY OF SERBS DAY Tanasić emphasized that special attention in the coming period will be devoted to preparations for marking the Day of the Unity of Serbs, Freedom, and the National Flag, which this year will be marked in all primary and secondary schools in an interesting manner. “We must not forget another very important topic our institution is following, which is the nurturing of a culture of remembrance and historical memory. We have designed numerous activities that will be implemented continuously throughout the 2026/2027 school year,” Tanasić said. SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR TALENTED AND GIFTED STUDENTS Tanasić stressed that supporting talented and gifted primary and secondary school students is of great importance to the Pedagogical Institute, noting that all planned activities in this area have been carried out. “For the republic-level competitions, the Institute provided awards for the winners, and, as every year, covered all other organisational and implementation costs. We continuously support students who qualify for international competitions by financing their accommodation, registration fees, and air travel,” Tanasić said.