Instruction for Mathematics and Science in Primary and Lower Secondary Grades
Grade at Which Specialist Teachers for Mathematics and Science are Introduced
Specialist teachers for mathematics and science subjects are introduced from Grade 5 of primary school.
Instructional Materials, Equipment, and Laboratories
There are significant differences among schools in the degree to which they are equipped with instructional resources and laboratories, depending on school size, the economic state of the community to which schools belong, the participation of schools in different projects, and the personal initiative of teachers and parents.32 According to data from 2012–2013 and 2013–2014, 73 percent of primary schools in Serbia are equipped fairly with material and technical resources (e.g., working space, equipment, and teaching aids).33
In Serbia, teachers have the flexibility to choose their own textbooks. They are allowed to select from a list of textbooks approved by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development.34 In 2009–2010, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development implemented a project called Free Textbooks for First, Second, and Third Grade, which provided teaching aids to all students in Grades 1 to 3 in the country.35 Since 2013, due to financial restrictions, textbooks have been provided only for students with economically deprived backgrounds.
Use of Technology
There are no prescriptions regarding the use of computers in teaching mathematics and science in Serbia. The use of technological resources depends on the level of equipment and teacher competencies. At present, every school in Serbia has at least one computer, but access to the computer and to the Internet is not always possible for all teachers (especially in small remote schools and branch departments).36
Accommodation Policies for Instruction and Testing
Students with disabilities take final examinations according to their motor and sensory capabilities. Adjustments are made to the conditions and content of the examinations for students with disabilities in accordance with their individual education plan.37