Geographical accessibility

In order to ensure the right to elementary education, competent ministries provided free transportation for all pupils who live more than 4 km away, as well as textbooks for socially disadvantaged pupils. Furthermore, healthcare is ensured for all pupils who cannot exercise the right otherwise. The programme is based on the principle of inclusion and access to every child, regardless of economic, social, health and other conditions. List of schools in the Register of Primary Schools is published in the media. School may perform activities outside its headquarters (hereinafter: the regional unit). The regional unit does not have legal personality. Initiative with an explanation of the need for the establishment of a regional unit is proposed by the school within which the regional unit should be constituted, at the latest by the end of June of the current year for the following school year. School may carry out activities abroad in accordance with the law.

Admission Requirements and Choice of School

Enrollment of children in the first grade is conducted in April and May. Children who turn six years of age by September 1 of the current year and who are psychologically and physically capable of monitoring and mastering educational programmes at school are enrolled in the first grade. Children older than six years who were not entered in the school due to illness or other reasons are also enrolled in the first grade. Before entering the first grade, the health institution determines the child’s health capacity and issues a report thereon. By the end of February, the local government submits to each school a list of children for enrollment in the first grade within the school enrollment area. Parents enroll a child in a primary school within the prescribed time, take care that the child attends classes regularly and performs other school duties.

Age Levels and Grouping of Pupils

Primary education is compulsory and it lasts 9 years. Children who turn six years of age by September 1 of the current year and who are psychologically and physically capable of monitoring and mastering educational programmes at school are enrolled in the first grade of primary school.

Classes for pupils in primary education are organized by triads: the classroom teaching is organized for pupils in grades I to III, the first triad, classroom and subject teaching is organized for pupils in grades IV to VI, the second triad, and subject teaching is organized for pupils in grades VII to IX, the third triad.

Organisation of the School Year

The school year begins September 1 and ends on August 31 and has two semesters. During the school year, students are entitled to winter, spring (in RS) and summer vacations. Educational work in primary school is realized in at least 175 instructional days, or 35 working weeks. Each year, the Ministry responsible for education makes a decision on the beginning and end of the school year, the number of working days and the duration of holidays for primary school pupils. Each school plans in its annual plan and programme of work the schedule with the number of working days required for the implementation of the curriculum and the number, plan and schedule of other working days during the school year required for other school educational programmes (school events, competitions, school day, trips, excursions, etc.). In special circumstances when it was not possible to predict something and plan it in the annual plan and programme of the school, the school may deviate from the deadlines established by the Decision on the beginning and end of the school year, the number of working days and the duration of the vacation for pupils in primary school, which is decided by the Ministry responsible for education upon the request of a school. Educational work in the school is carried out in two shifts if space, personnel and other conditions allow it. Educational work in primary school may be organized as a half-day or extended day programme for primary school pupils. Class teaching pupils can be burdened with regular, additional and remedial classes with a maximum of 25 hours evenly distributed per week, and subject teaching pupils with a maximum of 30 hours evenly distributed per week.

Organisation of the School Day and Week

Education and learning in primary school is realized on the basis of the curriculum. The curriculum for primary schools prescribes weekly and annual number of hours per grade in all subjects, other forms of direct educational work such as remedial classes and extra work, extra-curricular activities and teacher class, prolonged expert procedure for pupils with special educational needs. Lesson lasts 45 minutes if not defined otherwise by the curriculum. Exceptionally, the duration of the lesson may vary due to special circumstances, with the prior approval of the Ministry responsible for education. The break between two lessons lasts five minutes, and long break at least 15 minutes and is compulsory after two lessons for primary school pupils. The school runs classes for five working days a week. Daily duration of teaching is determined by the schedule of hours provided that the teaching hours for class teaching pupils cannot be more than four hours a day, and for other primary school pupils for more than six hours a day.