SLOVENIANS IN THE B-H EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Abstract

First Slovenians came to Bosnia-Herzegovina around the end of the 19th century. They were volunteers in the Bosnian uprising of 1875 and members of the Austro-Hungarian conquering army in 1878. After occupation of Bosnia- Herzegovina, college educated Slovenians started coming to Bosnia – physicians, engineers, economists, lawyers as well as many teachers and professors. They were assigned to work in government administration and various institutions, while teachers and professors were assigned to elementary, secondary and schools of higher learning, which were opened all around the country. In some places, Slovenians were the first teachers, as, for example, teacher Franc was in Vrnograc in the Cazin region, Mihajlo Rajh in Skocic, near Zvornik as well as others like Vinko Resa, Andrija Cekad and Antun Plohl. In secondary schools too Slovenians were among the first professors in the grammar, commercial and technical schools, opened in Tuzla, Mostar, Bihac, Travnik, Livno, Gacko, Bijeljina and many other cities. Professors Jakov Znidarsic, Ivan Seunik, Martin Bedzanic, Josip Pravdic, Emilijan Lilek, Davorin Nemanic, Josip Novak, Franc Kadunc, Alojz Rajh, Ignjac Fludernik, Aleksandar Hofer and Erik Brandis taught many generations of highschool students. Many of them became the most prominent intellectuals in Bosnia-Herzegovina, during the period between the First and the Second World War. Slovenian professors were among the first textbook authors, archeologists, botanists and explorers of the Bosnian past and its natural resources. They wrote some of the best scientific works, unsurpassed even today, published in national and in leading European magazines. Their students respected them as educators and personalities of exceptional human qualities. Words of Ali Riza ef. Prohic, the retired supreme Sharia judge, spoken to his professor E. Lilek at the occasion of his 80th birthday, are a testimony to that: “I did not forget you. Throughout the years all fades and is forgotten; only the good deeds and a human conduct remain in our memory and they shine like the stars in the sky”.