SCHOOLS WITH CLASSES IN SERBIAN TO OPEN IN TWO COUNTIES

ZAGREB, Aug 22 (Hina) - Primary and secondary schools with classes in Serbian will start working in Vukovar-Srijem and Osijek-Baranja counties this school year, said Jadranka Huljev, an advisor on minority education with the Croatian Ministry of Education and Sports. #L# Schools with classes in minority languages and scripts are founded in line with the Law on Education, and the Serb national minority has met all requirements for the establishment of such institutions, Huljev said. Six months ago, the Ministry received a request for the establishment of such schools from the Joint Council of (Serb- dominated) Municipalities (ZVO) of Vukovar-Srijem and Osijek- Baranja counties, after which preparations for classes in the Serbian language and script began. The establishment and registration of these schools will start in the school year 2002/2003, and the first schools will be opened by early October. Ministry experts, representatives of the state administration and county authorities will meet in Vukovar at the end of this month to complete the six-month-long preparations for the establishment of the schools, Huljev said. (hina) rml