A total of 2,015 students have left elementary schools across Republika Srpska (RS) over the past five years due to emigration abroad. This represents the equivalent of approximately 112 fewer classes in elementary schools.

The data on students leaving the educational system in RS is published by the RS Institute of Statistics, based on information provided by the schools, which are required to seek explanations from parents regarding why their children are leaving compulsory education.

The period in question spans from the beginning of the 2018/19 school year to the end of the 2022/23 school year, while data for the most recent 2023/24 school year is not yet available.

The RS Union of Education, Science, and Culture noted that some classes, particularly in smaller communities, have been reduced to the minimum. Meanwhile, schools in urban areas like Banja Luka are overcrowded, with students attending classes in three shifts.

“I notice that my colleagues are worried about their jobs in the future, as fewer children are being born, and there is a trend of entire families moving abroad,” said Dragan Gnjatic, President of the RS Education Union.

At the start of the 2023/24 school year, 83,708 students were enrolled in 192 elementary schools across 664 buildings. Compared to the start of the 2022/23 school year, the total number of students decreased by 1.1%, while the number of first-grade enrollments dropped by 1.9%.

Lower grades (first to fifth) are attended by 54.3% of students, while 45.7% are in higher grades (sixth to ninth).

Of the total student population, 83,353 attend regular elementary schools, while 355 students are enrolled in schools for children with developmental disabilities.

Between September 26, 2022, and September 25, 2023, a total of 9,733 students graduated from elementary schools.

At the start of the 2023/24 school year, there were 7,878 teachers employed in elementary schools, representing a 1.9% increase compared to the beginning of the 2022/23 school year.