Prof George Walker in Gimnazija
The first IBO's official visit to the Gimnazija happened on Friday, October 27th, 2005. Our school had visited the authorization team from regional office for Central & Eastern Europe and the Nordic countries of International Baccalaureate Organization.
Previously, the Gimnazija's English teacher Dalibor Martinovic and I (Rastko Vukovic, Math) were in Bratislava from July 4-8th, 2005 at five days working shop for Diploma Programme Coordination for International Baccalaureate Organization. In September happened the visit to us by Mark Sylvester, manager of future science lab UWC-IBO Mostar, which finished by positive evaluation.
The official visit's talks and presentations were kept from 9 AM to 2 PM, in friendly and working atmosphere. After welcome by Mrs Slavica Ivosevic, Headmistress of Gymnasia Banja Luka, Prof George Walker, Director General of International Baccalaureate Organization had his exposure. Then the presentation of the Diploma Programme had Mr Svante Ingler, Associate regional diploma manager for Central and Easter Europe & the Nordic countries, coded IBAEM. Than spoke A. Hadzic, CAS coordinator from 2nd Gymnasia Sarajevo, thence R. Vukovic and D. Martinovic from Gymnasia Banja Luka.
Hereafter we had three workshops, J. Gusic, mathematics teacher from 15th Gymnasia Zagreb, David Todd, history and TOK teacher from International School of Geneva, IB graduates, next talks with students and parents, debates and comments. At last, the guests had plied us with collective lunch and approval about pleasant atmosphere in our school.
Together with the authorization team we were at conference of United World College initiative for Bosnia in Sarajevo on Saturday, October 27-28th, 2005. The visit finished successfully and with impression that we are capable to maintain future program of International Baccalaureate Organization.
Than started the school year 2005/06 when Svante Ingler and myself work preparative to approache IBO and Gimnazija Banja Luka.
Elisabeth Rehn in Banja Luka
Dragoljub Davidovic, the Mayor of City of Banja Luka had talked with Elizabeth Rehn on Friday, February 24th, 2006 about International Baccalaureate organization Program Diplomma and vantages for middle-schools students in Banja Luka . Elisabeth Rehn visited Banja Luka as protector of United World Colleges initiative and IBO for for Bosnia and Herzegovina .
On the picture right above, the meeting in the official building of Banja Luka . Opposite to the Mayor Dragoljub Davidovic, from left: architect dr Milenko Stojakovic, principal of the Gymnasium Slavica Njezic-Ivosevic, translator Mirna Jancic, Elisabeth Rehn, DP Coordinator Rastko Vukovic.
The Mayor Dragoljub Davidovic said that IBO DP is good for the city affirmation, opening Banja Luka to World, and has various opportunities for young people. Via this program students and teachers could cooperate closely one by another, and our teachers may exchange experiences with international pedagogues.
In addition, the Program has exterior evaluation of the students, which means that school and the teachers do not mark student but "external examiner" - who do not know the students. This Program contains less numbers of subjects on middle-school level than we have now, and have specific approach to the subjects (for instance, the History subject has no books, and has no teach by teacher alone, but students on themselves search the subject from various resources). Program accept all world languages. That is to say, IBO has been going in ten world colleges and about thousand schools in more than 100 countries all over the world. IB curriculum is international paradigm in academic standards and professional development of teachers.
Certificate
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After a year of preparations led by DP Coordinator Rastko Vukovic, the authorization visit had done Svante Ingler the Associate regional DP manager, and Gostisa Barbara the teacher in Gimnazija Bežigrad, on June 20-21, 2006. Since their recommendations Gimnazija Banja Luka received Certificate of Authorization signed by Jeffrey Beard, Director General of IBO in Geneva on July 31, 2006. The Gimnazija Banja Luka has certified on July 31st, 2006 that it is authorized to offer the Diploma Programme of the International Baccalaureate Organization and to present candidates for examination. |
Picture up left: Svante Ingler and Rastko Vukovic in Athens on October 12th, 2006.