Pedagogy and school system in Croatia between the end of World War II
dr. Igor Radeka and dr. Štefka Batinić

Summary:  In this paper we analyse the development of pedagogical theory in Croatia as part of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia in the period between the end of World War II and the end of 1950s. The two decades between the two World Wars marked a prolific period in the development of pedagogical theory in Croatia. A university programme of pedagogic study was established in 1928, while major theorists and representatives of the spiritual-scientific, or cultural, pedagogy addressed key issues of pedagogy both as an autonomous scholarly discipline (Stjepan Matičević and Stjepan Pataki) and as a philosophical discipline (Pavao Vuk-Pavlović). However, under the new socialist regime that emerged at the end of World War II, the development of pedagogy was abruptly interrupted. Pedagogy in Croatia was forced into obscurity and was disconnected from its own heritage. Stjepan Pataki came to be regarded as the forerunner of socialist pedagogy in both Croatia and Yugoslavia. Within the broader context of general unification, ideologisation and centralisation of the state, the pedagogy of national communities comprising Yugoslavia lost its developmental specificities. This marked the beginning of the amalgamation of Yugoslav socialist pedagogy. This period also witnessed intensive work in the areas of reconstruction of old school buildings, construction of new ones, education of teachers, opening of new schools, creation of conditions conducive to the consistent implementation of compulsory education regulations and adjustment of the new school system to the needs of the new society. Almost a century old formal school system underwent radical changes implemented as a result of the political decisions of the ruling Communist Party. Teaching subjects and various forms of extracurricular activities were used as means of instilling desirable social and moral conduct, in keeping with the spirit of the dominant ideology.

Journal of Contemporary Educational Studies is
published with support of Slovenian Research Agency.