LAW ON PRIMARY EDUCATION

Transcription

1 LAW ON PRIMARY EDUCATION ("The Official Gazette of RS", No. 50/92, 53/93, 67/93, 48/94, 66/94 Parliament Decision, 22/2002, 62/2003 other law, 64/2003 correction of other law, and 101/2005 other law) I GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 1 This Law shall regulate the activity of primary education and primary music and ballet education (hereinafter: the school). Primary education shall be completed in the school through the implementation of the curriculum in the duration of eight years. Article 2 The objective of primary education shall be to provide general education, balanced personality development and the preparation for life and further academic or vocational education. Primary education shall ensure particularly: preparation for life, work, and further education and self-education; mastering the basic elements of general education; preparation for the application of the acquired knowledge and skills and the creative use of free time; development of intellectual and physical competencies, critical thinking, self-reliance, and interest for acquiring new knowledge; learning about the fundamental laws underlying the development of nature, society and human thought: acquiring and development of awareness about the need for health protection and nature and environmental protection; development of humanity, truthfulness, patriotism, and other ethical character traits; education for humane and cultural relations with others, irrespective of gender, race, religion, ethnicity and personal beliefs; nurturing and development of the need for culture and preservation of cultural heritage; acquiring the basic manners and etiquette. Articles 3 and 4* (Abrogated) Article 5 For ethnic minorities, the curriculum shall be implemented also in their native minority language or bilingually, for the minimum of 15 students enrolled in grade I.

2 The school may implement the curriculum in a native minority language as well or bilingually even for fewer than 15 students enrolled in grade I, subject to the approval of the Minister of Education. The Minister of Education shall specify the terms and conditions for the bilingual implementation of the curriculum. If the curriculum is implemented also in a native minority language, the students shall master the Serbian language curriculum as well. If the curriculum is implemented is Serbian language, the school shall provide for the students from the ethnic minority group to master the curriculum in their native minority language including elements of minority culture. Article 6* The municipality may organize joint professional services for all the schools in the territory of the municipality, subject to the approval of the Ministry of Education. Article 7* (Abrogated) II INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IN PRIMARY EDUCATION Article 8 The Republic of Serbia shall ensure the exercising of the individual rights of public interest in primary education, and particularly: 1. eight years of primary education for children; 2. primary education for adults; 3. primary music and ballet education; 4. complementary primary education for children of Serbian nationals living abroad. Articles 9-19* (Abrogated) IV CURRICULUM Article 20 The Minister of Education shall adopt the curricula.

3 The curriculum for religion instruction shall be adopted in agreement between the Minister of Education and the Minister of Religion, at the agreed proposal of the traditional churches and religious communities (Serbian Orthodox Church, Islamic Community, Catholic Church, Slovakian Evangelical Church, Jewish Community, Christian Reformed Church, and Evangelical Christian Church), in compliance with law. The Government of the Republic of Serbia shall establish a board to harmonize the proposals for religious curricula provided by the traditional churches and religious communities, and the proposals for textbooks and other teaching aids, and inform the Minister of Education in the procedure of selection of the teaching advisers for religious instruction and monitoring of the organization and implementation of religious instruction. Article 21 The curriculum shall specify the compulsory and elective curricular activities and optional activities. The curriculum shall specify: compulsory and elective curricular subjects, their allocation by grades and the weekly and annual load (number of class hours) in compulsory and elective subjects, the allocation of the by grades, and the weekly and annual load for other forms of educational work. The curriculum shall specify: the contents of each subject, the objective and outputs of teaching and other forms of educational work, and the instructions for their implementation. Article 22 Teaching in elective subjects shall be implemented in accordance with the curriculum in grades I to VIII, particularly: 1) religious instruction and other subject with ethical and humanistic content as may be specified by the Minister of Education in grades I to VIII; 2) foreign language as the elective subject in grades III to VIII; 3) other elective subjects in grades VII and VIII. The parent, i.e. guardian of a student has a right and obligation to decide at the point of enrollment in grade 1 and in every subsequent grade whether the student will attend religious instruction or classes in another subject as may be specified by the Minister of Education. The subject specified in Para. 1, Item 1) above for which the parent, i.e. guardian, has opted shall be compulsory for the student in the course of that school year. The elective subjects specified in Para. 1 Items 2) and 3) above shall be compulsory for the students who opt for those subjects. The School Board shall decide, in consultation with the municipality, which elective subjects from Para. 1 Items 2) and 3) above shall be taught in the school.

4 The decision on the selection or change of foreign language, both as a compulsory or elective subject, shall be made by the school, subject to the prior approval of the Minister of Education, by June 30 th of the current year at the latest. Article 23* Textbooks and other teaching aids for religious instruction shall be approved by the Minister of Education, at the agreed proposal of the traditional churches and religious communities, in compliance with law. Article 24* (Abrogated) 1. Organization of Educational Work Article 25 Class-based teaching shall be organized for grade I to IV students, and subject-based teaching shall be organized for grade V to VIII students. For grade III and grade IV students, subject-based teaching may be organized in maximum two of the following three subjects: art, music, and physical education. The decisions on the selection of the subjects from Para. 1 above shall be adopted by the School Director, in consultations with the School Faculty Council. Subject-based teaching shall be organized also in foreign languages, as elective subject, from grade 3. For ethnic minorities, subject-based teaching may be organized also in Serbian language and in native minority language with elements of ethnic minority culture, from grade I. For preschool age children from ethnic minority groups, the school may organize preparation classes for mastering basic-level Serbian language skills. Article 26 Students in class-based teaching shall have up to 20 class hours a week, i.e. up to four class hours a day, and students in subject-based teaching shall have up to 25 class hours a week, i.e. five class hours a day. Students in class-based teaching acquiring primary education in native minority languages shall have up to 23 class hours a week, and in 25 class hours a week, i.e. five class hours a day up to 28 class hours a week. The weekly number of classes specified in Para. 1 and 2 above does not include the classes in elective subjects and optional activities.

5 The number of classes specified in Para. 1 and 2 above may be topped up with up to 5 class hours of other activities. One class hour shall last 45 minutes. Article 27 A class of students in the same grade may have up to 30 students, and exceptionally up to 34 students. Educational work in grades I to IV may also be organized in multigrade classes. A multigrade class comprised of students in two grades may have up to 20 students, and that comprised of three or four grades may have up to 15 students. Article 28* (Abrogated) Article 29 The school may organize educational work in a special form of work for students in protracted home or hospital care. Article 30 For grade IV to VIII students with special skills, gift or interest in specific subjects, the school shall organize complementary instruction. Article 31 For students who are lagging behind in mastering the curriculum, the school shall organize remedial instruction in the course of the year. For students who are obliged to take makeup examination, the school shall organized preparation instruction. The preparation classes shall be organized before the examination, in the duration of at least five working days with two class hours a day in each subject. For students with minor physical and mental disabilities, the school shall organize corrective pedagogical work. Article 32 The school shall monitor the development of the students and provide professional guidance counseling. Article 33

6 The school shall provide the conditions for the implementation of the social, technical, humanitarian, sport and cultural activities that contribute to the students personal development. Article 34 A student cooperative may be established in the school in order to promote development of extracurricular activities and student community work. The work of the student cooperative shall be regulated under the Statute of the school. The school may provide services and sell products produced by the students in the student cooperative and other products, textbooks and school material and equipment. The recourses produced or acquired by the student cooperative shall be shown in a separate account and shall be used to increase the funding for the student cooperative, for student excursions, awards to the members of the cooperative, and improvement of the educational work in the school. Articles 35-38* (Abrogated) V STUDENTS 1. Student Enrollment Article 39* (Abrogated) Article 40* A parent, adoptive parent, guardian, i.e. guardian institution (hereinafter: the parent) is responsible to enroll the child in grade I, and for the student s regular school attendance and performance of other school obligations. The school is obligated to notify the parent and the municipality about all children who are not enrolled in grade I, who are not attending school regularly or who have stopped attending school, within 15 days from the expiry of the enrollment date, i.e. last date of last regular attendance of classes in the school. The relevant municipal authority shall file charges against any parent whose child was not enrolled timely in grade I, i.e. whose child is not attending school regularly, within 15 days from the date of notification thereof. Article 41 A student may be absent from school only in case of excused absence.

7 The parent shall excuse the student s absence within eight days. Article 42 A student is transferred to another school based on the transfer paper or diploma. The transfer paper shall be issued within 7 days from that date of notification about the student s enrollment into another school. The school to which the student is transferred shall notify the school from which the student has withdrawn about the receipt of the transfer paper within 7 days. Students cannot be expelled from school. Article 43 Grade V to VIII students may be transferred to another school, if they have committed a serious breach of student obligations, in accordance with the decision made by the School Faculty Council. Article 44 A student who has completed 15 years of age shall have his/her school attendance obligation expire upon the expiry of that school year. The school may provide education for a student who has completed 15 years of age and has not completed primary education, in accordance with the decision made by the Director, until he/she completes 17 years of age, at the request of the student or the parent. The student from Para. 2 above who has committed a serious breach of obligations shall be expelled from school. A student with mental disability may acquire primary education even after having completed 19 years of age. Article 45 A student may be partly or fully exempt from physical education classes temporarily or for the school year due to illness. The School Faculty Council shall adopt decisions on exemption from physical education classes at the proposal of a medical doctor. 2. Student Grading and Advancement Article 46 Students shall be graded in all curricular subjects and in conduct.

8 A student must be graded in each curricular subject at least twice in every semester, and the conduct is graded at the end of the first and the second semester. The student s final grade shall be determined the end of the first and the second semester. The student grading shall be public. The Minister of Education shall specify the grading method. Article 47 Grade I to IV students shall be graded by the class teacher. Grade V to VIII students shall be graded by subject teachers in the course of the educational work, and the final grade at the end of the semester shall be determined by the Class Council at the proposal of the subject teacher. The grade for conduct shall be determined by the Class Council at the proposal of the homeroom teacher. Article 48 Students attainment in the compulsory subjects shall be graded with a descriptive and a numerical grade: excellent (5); very good (4); good (3); passing (2) and failing (1). The failing grade (1) is the negative grade. Students attainment in the elective subjects specified in Article 22, Para. 1, Item 1) of this Law shall be graded with a descriptive grade, in accordance with the criteria specified by the Minister of Education. The Minister of Education shall specify, at the joint proposal by the Ministry of Religion and the traditional churches and religious communities, the criteria and the terms for grading of the students attending religion instruction. The grade in religion and other subjects that the Minister of Education may specify shall not influence the student s final grade. Students conduct shall be graded with a descriptive grade: exemplary; very good; good; acceptable, and unacceptable. Article 49 Students final overall grade shall be determined by calculating the arithmetic mean of all positive grades in compulsory curricular subjects and foreign language elective subject. Students final overall grade can be: excellent, very good, good, and passing. A student has achieved the final overall grade:

9 - excellent - if his/her mean grade is minimum 4.50; - very good - if his/her mean grade is 3.50 to 4.49; - good - if his/her mean grade is 2.50 to 3.49; - passing - if his/her mean grade is 2 to Article 50 The grade in conduct and the grade in elective subjects, with the exception of foreign languages, shall not influence the student s final grade. A failing grade in the elective subject, with the exception of foreign languages, shall not be entered into diploma. Article 51 A student shall advance to the next grade if he/she has obtained positive grades in all compulsory curricular subjects and in the foreign language elective subject. A grade VIII student has completed primary education if he/she has she has obtained positive grades in all compulsory curricular subjects and in the foreign language elective subject. Article 52 A grade I to IV student who at the end of a school year has a failing grade (1) in maximum two compulsory subjects shall also be allowed to advance to a the next grade. A grade IV student shall not be allowed to advance to grade V if he/she has a failing grade (1) at the end of the school year in the native language or in mathematics. The decision on the advancement of students in the next grade shall be adopted by the School Faculty Council, in consultations with the student s teacher. A student shall have recognized the grade from which he/she is transferring as completed. Article 53 Grade VIII students, as well as students in other grades in which, in accordance with Article 44 of this Law, the school attendance obligation terminates, who have not passed that grade, may pass the grade by taking the final grade examination in the subjects which they have failed within three years from that last date of regular attendance of classes. Article 54

10 Grade V to VIII students who fail one or in two compulsory curricular subjects, including foreign language elective subject, at the end of the second semester, shall take the remedial examination. The students shall sit for remedial examination in the autumn examination period (in August), and the grade VIII students sit for remedial examination in the spring examination period (in June). Article 55 Students who at the end of the second semester have more than two failing grades and the students who fail the remedial examination or fail to take the remedial examination shall repeat the grade. Article 56 The final grade examination shall be taken by students who did not attend more than one third of the total annual number of classes, and it is determined by evaluation that they did not master the contents of the curriculum, and grade V to VIII students who have not been graded in one or more subjects. Grade V to VIII students shall take the final grade examination also in any subject in which more than one third of the classes specified by the curriculum was not implemented. A student who in the final grade examination fails one or two subject shall take the remedial examination. A student who fails to take the final grade examination or fails to pass the final grade examination within the specified timeline shall repeat the grade. Article 57 A student may take an examination in a foreign language that he/she has not studied in school. The examination shall be taken in accordance with the prescribed curriculum for the relevant grade. The school shall issue to the student a certificate of successful completion of the exam Article 58 Remedial examinations, final grade examinations and other examinations shall be taken before the examining board comprised of minimum three members, established by the School Director. The grade given by the examining board shall be considered final. The method of examination and the period for remedial examinations, final grade examinations and other examinations shall be specified under the Statute of the school. 3. Student Rights, Duties, and Obligations

11 Article 59* (Abrogated) Article 60 A student who has excelled in academic achievement and conduct shall be commended or awarded for merit. The Statute of the school shall specify the types of commendations and awards and the terms for their awarding. Article 61 During his/her schooling, a student can receive a diploma for exceptional academic achievements, i.e. a diploma for exceptional merit in mastering of the curriculum in specific academic fields or subjects. The Minister of Education shall specify the types of diplomas, and the terms and conditions for awarding diplomas. Article 62 A student with exceptional knowledge and skills may graduate from school in less than eight years, but no less than in six years. In the course of one school year, the student may complete two grades. The Minister of Education shall specify the terms and procedures for student advancement. Article 63 A student or the parent shall have a right to submit a complaint with the School Director against the grade or the grading procedure within 24 hours from the receipt of the student booklet, i.e. diploma at the end of the second semester. If he/she finds that the complaint is justified, the School Director shall establish a three-member examining board before which the student shall take the examination. The examination shall be taken within three days from the date of complaint. The grade given by the examining board shall be considered final. A student or the parent shall have a right to submit a complaint with the School Director within 24 hours form the receipt of the student booklet, i.e. diploma, in case of breach of the grading procedure specified under this Law in the remedial, i.e. final grade examination.

12 If he/she finds that the complaint against the procedure specified in Para. 5 above is justified, the School Director shall cancel the examination and refer the student to retake the examination, within three days from the date of complaint. Article 64* (Abrogated) Article 65 For breach of student obligation, the student may be imposed a correctional disciplinary measure: a warning or a reprimand by the homeroom teacher, a reprimand by the Class Council, a reprimand by the School Director or a final reprimand by the School Faculty Council. The warning and the reprimand by the homeroom teacher, and the reprimand by the Class Council shall be issued for minor breaches of student obligations specified under the Statute of the school. The reprimand by the School Director and a final reprimand by the School Faculty Council shall be issued for grievous breaches of student obligations specified under the Statute of the school. The grievous breach of student obligations shall mean: alteration of a diploma, student booklet, or other public document; alteration or amendment of school records; theft of school property or students property; using or instigating students to use of alcohol or narcotic substances; instigating a fight or participating in a fight; expressing ethnic or religious intolerance; political organization and activity; more than 25 class hours of unexcused absence from school. The correctional disciplinary measure shall be issued for the school year in which the breach of student obligation occurred. Article 66 The student or the parent shall have a right submit a complaint to the School Director against the issued correctional disciplinary measure within five days from the receipt of the decision. The School Director shall adopt a decision within 15 days from the date of complaint. VI TEACHERS AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATES Articles 67-68* (Abrogated) Article 69 Teaching in grades I to IV may be implemented by teachers with the relevant higher education (university) or secondary school plus (two-year junior college) professional qualifications.

13 Serbian language and native minority language classes in grades I do IV may be implemented by teachers with the relevant qualifications obtained in the native language in which teaching is implemented or teacher who have successfully competed a junior college, i.e. university exam in language and teaching methodology. The program for language skills testing hall be specified by the junior college, i.e. university. Subject-based teaching may be implemented by teachers with the relevant university qualifications. Home economics classes, art and music classes may be taught also by teachers with the relevant junior college qualifications. Educational work (minding) in student boarding schools may be performed by minders with minimum relevant field junior college qualifications. Articles 70-81* (Abrogated) Article 82 Teachers, professional associates, and minders shall have a right to go on strike under the condition that they ensure the minimum work process in the school. The minimum work process for teachers shall mean the implementation of the compulsory teaching with 30 minute class hours in accordance with the daily schedule and holding examinations, and for professional associates and minders, 20 working hours a week. The School Director shall initiate disciplinary action against any teacher, professional associate or minder who participates in a strike in contravention to the provisions of Para. 2 above. For breach of the obligation from Para. 2 above, the teacher, professional associate, and the minder shall be imposed the measure of the termination of employment. VII SPECIAL EDUCATION Article 83 Children with special needs shall acquire primary education in compliance with this Law and shall be enrolled in the school in accordance with the decision certifying the type and level of impairment. Article 84 Children with special needs, for the purposes of this Law, shall mean:

14 1. children with bodily and sensory impairments (children with physical disabilities; blind and legally blind children, and deaf and legally deaf children); 2. children with mental disabilities (minor, moderate, severe, and profound); and 3. children with multiple disabilities (with two or more disabilities, autistic children, etc.). The type and level of impairment shall be established at the proposal of the medical assessment board. Article 85 The categorization of children is done, as a rule, prior to primary education, but it can also be done in the course of primary education. The decision certifying the type and level of impairment indicates the child s health status and capability for acquiring primary education and specifies the type of school in which the child shall be enrolled. The decision specified in Para. 2 above shall be adopted by the municipal, i.e. city administration, in consultations with the board for the assessment of children with special needs (hereinafter: the assessment board). The assessment board specified in Para. 3 above shall be appointed by the municipal, i.e. city administration, at the proposal of the health institution that is covering the territory in which the school is located and that is comprises: a specialist doctor in the relevant field of medicine, a psychologist, a pedagogue, a special education teacher specializing in the relevant field, and a social worker. Two or more municipalities may establish a joint assessment board specified in Para. 3 above. The parent, i.e. guardian of a child has a right to submit a complaint to the relevant municipal, i.e. city administration authority against the decision specified in Para. 2 above certifying the child s health status and capability. The relevant municipal, i.e. city administration authority hall decide upon the complaint against the decision specified in Para. 2 above in consultations with a special medical board that is established jointly by two or more municipalities. The parent is obliged to enroll the child in the school specified in the final decision on categorization. The municipality, i.e. city, in whose territory the parent has residence shall keep records of the children categorized and enrolled in suitable schools, and shall bear the cost of transport, subsistence and accommodation of students, if there are no suitable schools in the territory of the municipality. Article 86

15 The level or type of students impairment may be reassessed also in the course of primary education. The proposal for the reassessment of the type or level of impairment may be submitted by the parents or the school, i.e. health institution. Article 87 The Government shall specify the criteria and the procedure for the categorization of children with special needs, and the operating methodology for the assessment board specified in Article 84 of this Law. Article 88 The primary education curriculum shall be adopted for each type and level of impairment separately. The curriculum may further specify: the objective, outputs, and contents of education; duration of education; student enrollment age; number of students in a class, i.e. group; weekly and annual load (number of class hours) for teaching and other forms of educational work; duration of a class hour; [and] professional student guidance. Article 89 In grades V to VIII, teaching can be class-based, combined class-based and subject-based, or subject-based, depending on the type and level of impairment. The curriculum shall specify the conditions for class-based, combined class-based and subjectbased, or subject-based teaching. Article 90 A class or a group of children may have maximum 10 students, depending on the type and level of impairment. A class with children with multiple disabilities and a multigrade class may have maximum six students. Article 91 The school for special education shall be established for minimum eight classes. The school may perform as the core activity preschool (pre-primary) education, primary education and secondary education for children with the same type of impairment, and in accordance with law. The school may organize accommodation and subsistence in the student boarding school for both children of preschool age and students. The accommodation and subsistence can be based on day-care or full-board boarding.

16 The Minister of Education shall specify the terms for student accommodation and the procedures for implementation of the educational work. Article 92 Class-based teaching in grades I to IV, i.e. in grades I to VIII, may be performed by teachers special education teachers with minimum relevant field junior college qualifications. Subject-based teaching in grades I to VIII, may be performed by teachers who have minimum university qualifications in the subject they teach and who have been trained at the special education teachers college for work with students with special needs. The program for training for work with students with special needs shall be adopted by the Minister of Education, and the examination shall be taken at the special education teachers college. In case of combined class-based and subject based teaching in grades V do VIII, class-based teaching may be implemented by the teachers - special education teachers specified in Para. 1 above, subject based teaching may be implemented by the teachers specified in Para. 2 above. Article 93 The educational work in boarding schools may be performed by minders with minimum relevant field junior college qualifications with special education teacher profile. VIII PRIMARY EDUCATION FOR ADULTS Article 94 Persons over 15 years of age who are attending school regularly (hereinafter: adults) shall acquire primary education in compliance with this Law, in accordance with the curriculum for adults. Article 95 The curriculum for adults shall further specify: the objective, outputs, and contents of education; duration of education, and weekly and annual load (number of class hours) for teaching and other forms of educational work, as well as terms and procedures for the implementation of such work. Article 96 Adults may acquire primary education by attending classes or by taking examinations. Primary education for adults be organized by grades, from I to VIII grade, and shall last for four years. The number of adults in a class, i.e. group, shall be maximum 20.

17 The enrollment dates, i.e. exam application dates shall be regulated under the Statute of the institution providing se primary education for adults. The funding for the organization of classes and examinations for adult shall be provided by the participants in compliance with the normative act of the school. Article 97 An adult has completed a grade if he/she has obtained positive grades in all subjects. Adults who have a failing grade in specific subjects shall take examinations in such subjects. Adults shall not be graded for conduct. Article 98 Adults shall be issued a diploma for successful completion of each grade, and a primary school diploma. Article 99 The Government may delegate the activity of primary education for adults to other legal entities. The delegation of activities specified in Para. 1 above shall be regulated under contracts. Article 100 The municipality shall keep records of illiterate persons and persons who have not completed primary education. IX PRIMARY MUSIC AND BALLET EDUCATION Article 101 A child may enroll in primary music, i.e. ballet school if he/she passes the entrance examination implying the assessment of his/her musical, i.e. ballet skills. Students shall enroll in music schools, i.e. ballet schools at the beginning of each school year. Article 102 Primary music education shall last from two to six years, depending on the type of instrument, i.e. major, and primary ballet education shall last for four years. Article 103 The curriculum for primary music and ballet education shall further specify: the objective, outputs, contents, and duration of education; students age as the eligibility criterion for

18 enrollment; student enrollment age; the contents of the entrance, annual, and control examinations and enrollment requirements; the contents, forms, and methodology of educational work; duration of a class hour; weekly and annual load (number of class hours) for teaching and other forms of educational work; [and] number of students in a class, i.e. group. Primary music and ballet education for children with special needs shall be implemented in accordance with a separate curriculum. Article 104 Primary music and ballet education shall be completed by regular attendance of classes or by taking examinations. A student who is acquiring primary music or ballet education by taking examinations shall have a status of a part-time student. Article 105 Students attending primary music education shall take the annual examination, and students attending primary ballet education shall take the control examination and the annual examination. If a grade I student fails the annual examination in his/her major or fails the control examination, he/she shall not be allowed to continue acquiring music, i.e. ballet education in accordance with the program curriculum he/she has started attending. Students in other grades who fail the annual examination in his/her major shall repeat the grade. A student may take the remedial examination in one subject only. A student may repeat a grade only once during his/her music, i.e. ballet education. Article 106 A student who is excelling in knowledge and skills may acquire primary music or ballet education even in the period that is shorter than that specified in the curriculum. Article 107 A child that has completed minimum six years of age and for whom it is established in the entrance examination the he/she is exceptionally gifted for music may enroll in grade I of the music school for specially gifted children. If it is established that a music school student is exceptionally gifted for music, he/she may continue acquiring music education in accordance with the curriculum for specially gifted children. Article 108

19 A child that has completed minimum eight years of age, and maximum 10 years of age, and who has completed the first and second grade of primary school, and for whom it is established in the entrance examination that he/she is exceptionally gifted for ballet may enroll in grade I of the ballet school for specially gifted children. Article 109 Music education for specially gifted children who are exceptionally gifted for music shall last for 10 years, and that for student with exceptional ballet skills for eight years. The curriculum for specially gifted children shall be adopted as the integrated curriculum for regular primary education and primary and secondary music, i.e. ballet education. Article 110 Students of music, i.e. ballet schools for specially gifted children shall take the annual examination in all vocational subjects. A student who fails the remedial examination in a vocational subject, and a student who fails the annual examination in his/her major shall not be allowed to continue his/her education in accordance with the curriculum for specially gifted children. The students from Para. 2 above may continue his/her education in accordance with the curriculum for primary music, i.e. ballet education. Article 111 The school may perform the core activity of primary music and ballet education in compliance with law. The school may organize student accommodation and substance. Article 112 Teaching in primary music schools may be implemented by persons with minimum relevant junior college professional qualifications. Exceptionally, teaching may be implemented also by persons with secondary music school education, if for that specific subject, in the Republic of Serbia, teachers are not educated in junior college, i.e. university. Article 113 Teaching in primary ballet schools may be implemented by persons with minimum relevant junior college professional qualifications, unless this Law stipulates otherwise. Ballet classes may be taught by ballet dancers, i.e. ballet teachers with secondary ballet school education, minimum 10 years of dancing experience, i.e. teaching experience, and successfully completed psychology and pedagogy examination.

20 The examination specified in Para. 2 above shall be taken in the relevant university. Article 114 Educational work in boarding schools may be performed by minders who fulfill the requirements for teachers in music and ballet schools for specially gifted children. X SCHOOL MANAGEMENT Articles a* (Abrogated) XI VALIDATION OF FOREIGN DIPLOMAS Article 123 Serbian nationals who have completed primary education or have completed specific grades of primary school abroad shall have a right to request validation of a foreign primary school diploma and diplomas for specific grades of primary school completed. Foreign nationals shall have a right to request validation of a foreign diploma or recognition of equivalent qualifications if that is in his/her legal interest. Article 124 Validation of foreign diplomas and recognition of equivalent qualifications shall be done by the Ministry of Education. Through validation, a foreign school document shall be equalized with the appropriate school diploma acquired in the Republic of Serbia in terms of both the right to continue education and the right to employment. Through recognition of equivalent qualifications, a foreign school document shall be equalized with the appropriate school diploma acquired in the Republic of Serbia in terms of the right to continue education. Article 125 The procedure of validation of a foreign school document, i.e. recognition of equivalent qualifications, shall be subject to the provisions of the Law on General Administrative Procedure, unless this Law stipulates otherwise. In the procedure of validation, i.e. recognition of equivalent qualifications, the following shall be taken into account: education system in the country in which the school document was acquired, the curriculum; years of school; the rights guaranteed by the school document to the holder, and other circumstances that might influence the decision making.

21 If it is established in the procedure of validation that there are substantial differences between the foreign curriculum that was mastered and the curriculum with which it is compared, the validation shall be conditioned by taking specific examinations or knowledge test. The Ministry of Education may delegate the assessment of examinations and the knowledge test specified in Para. 3 above to a separate expert board. Article 126 A person who has submitted a request for validation of a foreign school document, i.e. recognition of equivalent qualifications, may enroll conditionally into the next grade, if the procedure has not been finalized by the enrollment date. Article 127 A person who has requested validation of a foreign school document, i.e. recognition of equivalent qualifications, shall support the request with the original document or a notarized copy of the document, with the original presented for to the certified translator for inspection and translation. The decision on validation and the decision on recognition of equivalent qualifications shall be considered final in the administrative procedure. A short summary of the decision shall be entered into the original school document and the translation of the document (clause on validation, i.e. recognition of equivalent qualifications). Article 128 The authority in charge of the procedure for validation of foreign school documents, i.e. recognition of equivalent qualifications, shall document the procedure and keep records of the procedure. The methodology for keeping records and the content of the records shall be specified by the Minister of Education. XII RECORDS, PUBLIC DOCUMENTS AND OFFICIAL SEAL Article 129 The school shall perform public functions delegated to the school in compliance with this Law. If the teaching is implemented also in a minority language, the school shall keep records in that language as well. The school shall keep the records specified in this Law, and shall issue public documents on the basis of the data from the records.

22 The teacher s record book (grade book) shall be maintained in the language and alphabet in which the educational work is implemented. Article 130 The school shall maintain the registry book, the teacher s record book (grade book), examination records minutes from remedial examinations, final grade examinations, examinations for adults, and other examinations, minutes on students attainment at the end of the school year, on the issued diplomas and on the allocation of classes by teachers. The Minister of Education shall specify the contents of the forms and the procedures for record keeping specified in Para. 1 above, and shall approve the issued records. Article 131 The school shall keep permanently the registry book and the records on all issued primary school graduation diplomas. The teacher s record book, grade book, and examination records shall be keeps for a period of 10 years. Public documents issued by the school include: 1. student booklet; Article primary school graduation diploma, i.e. grade completion diploma; 3. transfer paper; 4. certificate of successful completion of a foreign language examination. The Minister of Education shall specify the form of the student booklet, diplomas, transfer paper, and certificate and shall approve their issuance. Article 133 The school shall issue to a student a student booklet in which all semester academic grades and semester grade for conduct in the course of the year and at the end of each grade shall be recorded. The school shall issue the primary school graduation diploma to a student. A student who has not completed primary education, and whose regular school attendance obligation has expired, and a student is moving abroad shall be issued a diploma for the last grade completed.

23 If the teaching is implemented also in a minority language, the public documents specified in Article 132 shall be issued in that language as well. Article 134 The credibility of public documents shall be verified by the seal. The contents of the official seal shall be in compliance with law. The Statute of the school shall specify the official authorized to use and keep the official seal. Article 135 The school shall issue a copy of a public document in a specified form, upon the publication of the announcement of invalidity of the public document in "The Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia. The school shall issue a certificate of the events entered in the records, in case there is no specified form. Article 136 If there are no records of the completed primary education or of the issued diploma, a request for validation of completed primary education shall be submitted to the municipal court in whose territory the school is or was seated. The request shall include the evidence based on which is can be validated that primary education was completed, and the certificate that the records, i.e. archives, have been destroyed or misplaced. The certificate specified on Para. 2 above shall be issued by the school in which the person completed primary education or by other institution that has taken over the records, i.e. archives. If there is no such institution, the certificate shall be issued by the municipal administration authority in whose territory the school was seated. Article 137 The decision on validation of primary education shall be adopted by the municipal court in outof-court proceedings, on the basis of written proof. The decision shall indicate: the name and seat of the primary school in which primary education was completed; first and last name of the individual, including nee name for married individuals; mother s and father s name; date and place of birth and place of residence of the individual, and that the individual completed primary education. The decision on validation of primary education shall be equivalent to the primary school graduation diploma. XIII FINANCING

24 Articles * (Abrogated) XIV PENAL PROVISIONS Article 140** The school shall be fined in the amount of to Serbian Dinars for: 1. (abrogated); 1a. (abrogated); 2. failing to implement the curriculum adopted in compliance with this Law (Article 20); 3. failing to obtain approval for the selection or change of a foreign language (Article 22); 4. (abrogated); 5. (abrogated); 6. determining excessive number of compulsory teaching classes (Article 26); 7. (abrogated); 8. failing to notify the parents and the municipality about the students who are not attending school; (Article 40); 9. failing to provide within seven days the transfer paper and other information about the student, i.e. failing to issue notification within the same timeline about the receipt of the student, the transfer paper and other information about the student (Article 42); 10. (abrogated); 11. (abrogated); 12. enrolling a child with special needs without the decision on categorization (Article 83); 13. failing to maintain the prescribed record or maintaining incomplete records about the educational work in the school (Articles 129, 130, and 131); 14. issuing a diploma whose content does not match with the information in the registry book (Article 133). In addition, the responsible person in the school shall be fined in the amount of to Serbian Dinars for the offence from Para. 1 above.

25 Article 141* (Abrogated) XV TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS Article 142 The existing schools shall harmonize their organization and general acts with the provisions of this Law within six months from the date of effectiveness of this Law. Until such time the general acts specified in Para, 1 are adopted, the existing general acts shall remain in force, unless such provisions are in contravention to this Law. Article 143 The founder s rights and obligation over the schools founded by the municipality, City of Belgrade, i.e. Autonomous Province, and included in the school network shall be taken over by the Republic of Serbia as of the date of effectiveness of the act regulating the school network. Article 144 The land, buildings and other property of the schools founded by the municipality, City of Belgrade, i.e. Autonomous Province, and included in the school network shall be transferred into state ownership as of the date of effectiveness of the act regulating the school network. Article 145 Teachers, professional associates, and minders who are performing the educational work in the school and who fulfilled the requirements in terms of qualification level and profile in accordance with the regulations effective prior to date of effectiveness of this Law may continue to perform the educational work in the school. Article 146 Teachers with teacher-training school qualification, and teachers with junior pedagogy college qualifications, who were not employed as of the date of effectiveness of this Law in primary schools, may begin their employment by the end of the school year 1996/97. Article 147 Teachers who are performing the educational work with students with special needs who fulfill the requirements for teaching specific subjects may continue to perform such work if they complete training for work with students with special needs in the relevant university within twp years from the adoption of the special education teacher training program. Article 148

26 Teachers, professional associates, and minders who are performing the educational work with students with special needs, who do not fulfill the requirements in terms of qualification level and profile may continue to perform such work if they have minimum 25 years of experience in performing educational work, of which minimum 15 years of experience in working with students with special needs prior to the date of effectiveness of this Law in the school. Article 149 Teachers in primary music and ballet schools who do not fulfill the prescribed requirements in terms of qualification level and profile may continue to perform the educational work if they have minimum 15 years of experience in performing educational work in music, i.e. ballet schools prior to the date of effectiveness of this Law. For the posts occupied by teachers who do not fulfill the prescribed requirements, the music or ballet school shall announce a competition by the end of June of the current year. If there are no applicants who fulfill the prescribed requirements, the school may keep the teachers in those posts and continue their employment until the next completion is announced. Article 150 Teachers, professional associates, and minders in the schools seated in the territory of the Autonomous Province who have not competed successfully the professional examination in accordance with the education regulations, may pass the examination within three years from the date of effectiveness of this Law. Article 151 The Minister of Education shall appoint School Directors within one year from the date of effectiveness of this Law. Article 152 The curricula for educational work and the regulations adopted in compliance with the Law on Primary Education ( The Official Gazette of SRS", No. 5/90); Law on Primary Education ( The Official Gazette of SRS", No. 51/78, 30/79, 39/81, 43/82, 13/83, 43/85, 49/85 and 39/86); Law on Education ("The Official Gazette of SAP Vojvodina", No. 15/83, 19/83 - correction 11/86, 15/86 - correction 5/87, 17/88, 23/88, 18/89 and 6/90); Law on Primary Education ("The Official Gazette of SAP Kosovo", No. 29/79, 7/80, 46/80 and 7/86); Law on Music and Ballet Education ( The Official Gazette of SRS", No. 51/85); Law on Education for Children and Youth with Special Needs ( The Official Gazette of SRS", No. 43/84 and 18/89); the provisions of the Law on Education where it pertains to experiments, music and ballet education and education of children with special needs ("The Official Gazette of SAP Vojvodina", No. 15/83, 19/83 - correction 11/86, 15/86 - correction 5/87, 17/88, 23/88, 18/89 and 6/90); Law on Education for Children and Youth with Special Needs ("The Official Gazette of SAP Kosovo", No. 19/85) and the provisions of the Law on Experiments in Preschool, Primary and Secondary Education ("The Official Gazette of SAP Kosovo", No. 27/76) shall remain effective until such time the curricula and the relevant regulations specified in this Law are adopted, id they are not in contravention to this Law.