Gimnazija Banja Luka is the oldest school in the Republic of Srpska and one of the oldest in the region. There are about 1200 students aged 14-19, 40 classrooms and 4 grades. From July 31st, 2006 Gimnazija has been authorized to offer the Diploma Programme of the International Baccalaureate Organization in English and to prepare candidates for examinations.
A school year in all high schools in the Republic of Srpska lasts from September 1st to August 31st altogether. For I, II and III grades the school year lasts for 36 weeks with 5 working days, with 180 working days altogether, while IV grade lasts for 32 weeks with 160 working days. Tuition in the first semester (September – December) starts on the first Monday in September.
During the school year there are 3 weeks of winter break, 1 week of spring break and summer break which lasts from the end of the second semester to September.
National program
The national program in Serbian consists of three branches - general, humanities and sciencies. There are 12-14 subjects per year in even branch.
The optimal number of students in one classroom is 24. The morning shift starts at 7:30, while the afternoon shift starts at 13:30. The shifts are changed weekly. There are up to 6 lessons per day, 30 lessons per week. A single lesson lasts for 45 minutes.
The student's success is marked at the end of each semester and at the end of the school year by: excellent (5), very good (4), good (3), sufficient (2), and insufficient (1). The mark insufficient (1) is not the pass mark.
The student's final mark is proposed by his/her teacher and ratified by the Teacher Council. The general success of the student is ratified by the Teacher Council, and verified by the School Council.
IB Diploma Programme
The IB Diploma Programme is a comprehensive and challenging pre-university course that demands the best from both motivated students and teachers. This sophisticated two-year curriculum covers a wide range of academic subjects and has stood the test of time for over half a million students in 119 countries since 1968. IB Diploma Programme graduates are welcomed by the world's leading universities.
IB DP is aimed at students aged 16 to 19, that is III and IV grade of Gimnazija. The optimal number of students in one classroom is 15-20. There is only one shift, from 7:30 to 15:05. Some of the activities are optional for the students. Lessons last for 45 minutes and there are 5, 15 or 55 minutes breaks. The program involves 34 lessons per week.