Figure 1.--Here we see a Croatian primary-level school class. The postcard-back school portrait looks to have been taken in the 1930s, probably the nid- or late-30s. Notice how large the size of the class is, over 40 This reflects school funding. Also notice all the children wearing sailor outfirs, both boys and girls. We believe this is an Austrian/German inflence and probably an urban school.

Croatian has gone through many historical changes which significatly affected the educational system. Unfortunately we have been able to find very limited historical information about Croatian education. Croatia was once part of the Hungarian Kingdom. After the Ottoman defeaft of the Hungarians (16th century), it became the frontier betwen Christaian and Muslim Europe. It became part of the Austrian Hapsburg Empire. Public schools beganto appear in the 19th century, but we know very little about schools in Croatia. We are not sure at this time what impact the Imperial Austrian Government has on the school system, including the use of Serb-Croatian in the schools.After the Prussian victory in Austro-Prussian War (1866), Croatia became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After World War I, Crotia became part of Yugoslavia. During the Royal Yugoslav period, the Croatians had much more control over the schools. We are unsure just what the Federal role was. As part of the Empire, Croatia education was heavily influenced by Austrian (German) norms. We are not ure to what extent the Crotin language was used in education. Part of Croatia with an Italian population was awarded to Italy as part of the World War I peace settlement. The Italians were disatisfied with the award. We have some information on a school at Parenzo when it was part of Italy. Yugoslavia was invaded by the Germans (1941) and them occupied by the Axis powers, primarily Germany and Italy. School was free at the primary level, but we know little about secodary schools. Croatia seceeded from Yugoslavia and for 3 years was a quasi-independent German puppet. Croatia was returned to Yugoslavia after the War. Tito supressed nationalist seniment. Educational policy was set at the national or federal level. Communist countries generally placed considerable emphasis on education although there was considerable indoctrination rather than instruction. Nationalist sentiment surfaced after Tito's death. Croatia in the 1990s fought a bitter civil war for independence from the Serb-controlled Yugoslav federation and was subsequently involved in the Bosnian War. It is now an independent country. with its own national educational system. Primary and secondry education continued to be virtually free. The Ministry of Education also funds public universities.

Medieval Era

We have no information on education dyring the medieval era. The first reference to a school dates the middle medieval era (10th century). Schools throughout the medieval era were linked to the Catholic Church and priesthood. Croatia was once part of the Hungarian Kingdom. The first university in Croiatia was opened at Zadar (1396).

Hapsburg Era (16th century-1918)

After the Ottoman defeaft of the Hugarians, (16th century), it became the frontier betwen Christaian and Muslim Europe. It became part of the Austrian Hapsburg Empire. Public education did not exist until the Reformation (16th century). The Happburgs and Counter Reformation managed to keep its domains, including Crotia Catholic, but in the Protestant north, the idea of public education took hold. Protestants broke into many denominations, but there was several common tennants and one was Bible reading. Protestants emphasuzed Bible study and thisequired literacy. And this led directlt to public education and the advantages to an educated public. Austria had to compete with Prussia and the other Protestant powers. This became apparent during the Seven Years War when Frederick the Great seized Silesia from Austria (1756-63). Thus one outcome of the war was Emperess Maria Theresa issuing the Edict on the General School Order (1774), launching educational reform emphasising primary education. Every place with a parish church was required to open a school. This did not mean that all immediated did so. This meant that education was primarily an urban phenomnon and in many places schools did not begin opertating until the 19th century. Miroslav Krleža Elementary School is the oldest Zagreb elementary school (1830). There were three classes for boys, and lessons in Croatian. Children aged 7-12 years were required to attend, but we are unsure about actual attendance, espcially as instruction was in German. Cources to train teachers were organized in Bjelovar, Petrinja and Karlovac. The first public teacher training college opened in Zagreb (1849). Thus in the 19th century primary shools were operating throughout Croatia. The Croatian Diet issued the first Croatian Education Act (1874). This mandated a compulsory 5-year primary education program. The official language became Croatian, meaning Serbo-Croatian. After the Prussian victory in Austro-Prussian War (1866), Croatia became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Language became a major issue in the multi-ethnic Hapsburg Empire, but in Croatia this was settled at least in primary schools by he Croatian Diet. We are not yet sure about secondary schools. Zagreb Upper Town Gymnasium. The Jesuits founded the first Cfoatian gymnasium (selectiv secondary school) in the Zagreb, now known as the Upper Town Gymnasium. The largest and the oldest continuously operating Croatian university is the University of Zagreb (1669).

Royal Yugoslavia (1920s-30s)

After World War I, Crotia became part of the new Yugoslav Kingsom. Yugoslavia was the new combined country for the southern slavs built around pre-War Serbia. There was a well-established public school system in Croatia. This meant that the Hapsburg eduction system had to be coordinated with the Serbian education system. Yugoslavia was a federal state, thus there could be differences within the country. And Croats may have largely controlled the schools in Croatia. Here we do not hve much information. We are not sure how this was carried out and the results. During the Royal Yugoslav period, the Croatians had much more control over the schools. We are unsure just what the Federal role was. Croatia was the primary eistance to Serbian domination of the country. As part of the former Hapsburg-controlled Austro-Hungarian Empire Empire, Croatia education was heavily influenced by Austrian (German) norms. Croatians resented Serbian control of Yugoslavia and this destabilized the Yugoslav state politically. Language was often a major factor in nationalist agitation. This was not the case in Croatia as the Serbs and Croats spoke the same language--Serbo-Croatian. Part of Croatia with an Italian population was awarded to Italy as part of the World War I peace settlement. We have some information on a school at Parenzo on the Istrian Peninsula near Trieste when it was part of Italy. The Italians were disatisfied with the award and wanted a much larger area of the Adriatic coast. School was free at the primary level in Yugoslavia, but we know little about secodary schools.

World War II (1941-45)

Yugoslavia was invaded by the Germans (1941) and them occupied by the Axis powers, primarily Germany and Italy. Croatia seceeded from Yugoslabia which was partioned by the Gemans. Croati was for 3 years was a quasi-independent German puppet supporting the Germn war effort. Croatian authorities purged Jewish, Serbian, and Muslim teachers from the school system. Jewisg children were expelled. We are not sure about Serbian and Muslim children. We are not sure to what extent the school system functioned during the war, but believe the schools began to close as the Germans began withdrawing (October 1944). We think that Tito's partisans may have targeted teachers in ythe Croatian schools as supporters of the pro-German Croatian nationalist government, but we do not yet have any detailed information.

Communist Yugoslavia (1945-91)

Tito's Communist Partisans seized control of the country af the end of the War. Croatia was returned to Yugoslavia after the War. Educational policy was for the first time set at the national or federal level rather than the state level. The Yugoslav system became highly centralized. Croatia had a different historical experience than Serbia. We are not sure the differences affected schools in Croatia. Communist countries generally placed considerable emphasis on education although there was considerable indoctrination rather than instruction. Communist authorities mandated a 7-year compulsory primry system (1945). This was increased to 8 years (1958). It applied to all children aged 7-15 yeatrs oif age. Yugoslavia was a union of the southern Slavsm including several national groups (Albanians (Kosovars), Croats, Macedonians, Slovenes, Serbs, and others. Ethnic-national disputes occured from the very foundation of Yusoslavia arond the Serbian kingdom. These conflicts surfaced with virulent intensity during World War II. Tito ruthlessly supressed the expression of nationalist sentiment. The underlying sentiment continued, but they were just not verbalized or acted on. After Tito's death and the subsequent sisentegration of Yugoslavia, these ethnix issues surfaced. .

Independence (1991- )

Croatia in the 1990s fought a bitter civil war for independence from the Serb-controlled Yugoslav federation and was subsequently involved in the Bosnian War. It is now an independent country. with its own national educational system. The Croatian education system consists of various schooling types: kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools. Public kindergarten, primary and secondry education is virtually free. There are some 940 primary and 390 secondary schools in Croatia. There are very few private schools in Croatia, in part the result of the German tradition and nearly five decades of Communist control. The Ministry of Education also funds public universities. University fees at state institutions are also free, but students must purchase their own textbooks, basic equipment, cafeteria food, student dorms and other necessities. The Government provides thousands of scholarships. In addition, the state pays health insurance for students. There are very few private schools in the country. Unlike the primary and secondary schools, there are some private institution of higher education.

Created: 4:45 AM 10/16/2009
Last updated: 3:27 AM 7/14/2017