TEXTBOOK REVISION IN BIH Textbook Revision Process: - Why? - By Whom? - What Subject Areas?

TEXTBOOK REVISION IN BIH

Textbook Revision Process:

- Why?

- By Whom?

- What Subject Areas?


Bosnia and Herzegovina is comprised of two entities: Republika Srpska and Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

F BiH is comprised of ten CantonsBrçko District as an autonomous unitConstituent peoples


Jurisdiction for educational matters:

- RS highly centralized- FBIH decentralized- Cantons responsible for education- Brçko District autonomous


The role of the international community

The role of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina


Common Core CurriculumCIVITASTextbook ProductionTextbooks from Other Countries


The last process March – July 2003 Process initiated by the Entity Ministries

of Education Process facilitated by the OSCE Mission

in Bosnia and Herzegovina 300 primary and high school textbooks

were revised Composition of the Commission

The main aim of the textbook revision process was to:

Remove inappropriate terminology from textbooks

An interim measure in ensuring that the education is free from political, religious, cultural and other bias and discrimination which respects the rights of all children.


The process included the so-called national group of subjects:

- mother tongue and literature- history- geography- nature and science- religious instruction


Harmonized Issues in History:

Presentation of historical maps Terms such as ‘slaughtered’, ‘brutal

rule/authority’ have been removedIn addition to sufferings of one people,

sufferings of two other peoples are mentioned as well.


Unharmonized Issues in History:

Issues of terminology Ethnic background and names of

significant people(s) in the history textbooks

Uneven representation of other constituent people(s)



One-sided representation of historical events from perspective of only one constituent people (presented in either a victorious role or as the victims)



Biased representation of historical content, particularly the recent war (issues such as describing population migrations, or the suffering of people)


Main Conclusions in Geography:

Examples given in the textbooks should come from within Bosnia and

Herzegovina

The terms: “aggression”, “inter-entity” or “civil war” should be replaced and the

term to be used is “war” only


Main Conclusions in Geography:

The naming of towns Maps of Bosnia and Herzegovina should

have inter-entity boundary line Formulations defining area of Bosnia

and Herzegovina as the area of the former Yugoslavia should be removed.


Next Steps:

The establishment of the Independent Commission on Textbook Writing with the aim to develop guidelines for textbook authors.


Next Steps:

Students have a basic understanding of the history and geography of all three constituent people and national minorities.


Next Steps:

The three constituent peoples and national minorities are presented in a balanced manner.


Next Steps:

Contested interpretations of proscribed curriculum content are addressed in a manner appropriate to all three constituent peoples and national minorities.


Next Steps:

Neighboring countries are presented in a balanced manner.


Next Steps:

Interactive teaching and comparative methodological approaches are applied in textbook writing.

Documents

TEXTBOOK REVISION IN BIH Textbook Revision Process: - Why? - By Whom? - What Subject Areas?