In late September 1998, encouraged by the Ministry of Education and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia, members of our Association opened a school of the Slovenian language and culture in Banja Luka. Eight students, willing to learn the language of their ancestors gathered in an improvised classroom of the Police School in the part of Banja Luka called Rosulje.
As years passed by, the number of students increased so that in the past three years, there were approximately 40 students enrolled on the first Saturday of the month of September. One of the reasons for that was Slovenian teacher Mario Sladoljev - Jolič who was the teacher ever since the lessons were organized. In the school year 2009/2010 teacher Mario retired and it was well deserved. His place was taken by Mr. Darko Mijatović, who has been a member of our Association for many years. From September 2010 to September 2012 we had a teacher from Slovenia Valentina Nina Gradič who was then replaced by Professor Barbara Hanuš.
As years passed by, the number of students increased so that in the past three years, there were approximately 40 students enrolled on the first Saturday of the month of September. One of the reasons for that was Slovenian teacher Mario Sladoljev - Jolič who was the teacher ever since the lessons were organized. In the school year 2009/2010 teacher Mario retired and it was well deserved. His place was taken by Mr. Darko Mijatović, who has been a member of our Association for many years. From September 2010 to September 2012 we had a teacher from Slovenia Valentina Nina Gradič who was then replaced by Professor Barbara Hanuš.
There are very good conditions for the Saturday lessons of Slovenian, especially since lessons have been organized in the National Minorities' Club in Banja Luka (at 20, Cara Lazara Street). For two years, now lessons have been organized at one more site - Elementary School "Holandija" in Slatina. In Slatina, there is one group of pupils, while in Banja Luka, students have been divided into six groups given their age (elementary school, secondary school and adults) and their knowledge (beginners, intermediate and advanced).
That children study Slovenian with pleasure is supported by the fact that some students in this year's advanced group have been attending lessons for 5 or 6 years, and there are also two students who have been with us since 1998. Students regularly perform at events and celebrations organised by the Triglav Association, and they also take part at social gatherings and cultural festivities. Special place among those festivities belongs to traditional gatherings of students of Supply Teaching Lessons of the Slovenian language and culture from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the past 13 years, the students of the Supply Teaching Lessons of the Slovenian language and culture in Banja Luka have regularly participated in summer and winter school camps of the Slovenian language organised by the Ministry of Education and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia, the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana and Koper, as well as the World Slovenian Congress. We are proud of the performances of choir Mladi Jenkovci whose members are students of the Supply Teaching Lessons. We also have to praise our students who successfully continued their education at some of the faculties in Slovenia.
The most important of all is that the Banja Luka students of the Supply Teaching Lessons of the Slovenian language and culture are cheerful, happy and outgoing children and, thanks to that, they were guests at various celebrations, social and cultural gatherings in BiH and Slovenia. Therefore, it is not merely a phrase that our school, which has functioned within the Association of Slovenians of the Republic of Srpska Triglav has contributed to the preservation of national identity and cultural tradition of their ancestors' homeland - the beautiful Slovenia.
That children study Slovenian with pleasure is supported by the fact that some students in this year's advanced group have been attending lessons for 5 or 6 years, and there are also two students who have been with us since 1998. Students regularly perform at events and celebrations organised by the Triglav Association, and they also take part at social gatherings and cultural festivities. Special place among those festivities belongs to traditional gatherings of students of Supply Teaching Lessons of the Slovenian language and culture from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the past 13 years, the students of the Supply Teaching Lessons of the Slovenian language and culture in Banja Luka have regularly participated in summer and winter school camps of the Slovenian language organised by the Ministry of Education and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia, the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana and Koper, as well as the World Slovenian Congress. We are proud of the performances of choir Mladi Jenkovci whose members are students of the Supply Teaching Lessons. We also have to praise our students who successfully continued their education at some of the faculties in Slovenia.
The most important of all is that the Banja Luka students of the Supply Teaching Lessons of the Slovenian language and culture are cheerful, happy and outgoing children and, thanks to that, they were guests at various celebrations, social and cultural gatherings in BiH and Slovenia. Therefore, it is not merely a phrase that our school, which has functioned within the Association of Slovenians of the Republic of Srpska Triglav has contributed to the preservation of national identity and cultural tradition of their ancestors' homeland - the beautiful Slovenia.
