Matematička Gimnazija
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Matematička Gimnazija (Serbian Cyrilic: Математичка гимназија, English: Mathematical Gymnasium or Mathematical High School) is a specialised high school for Mathematics in Belgrade, Serbia. The school is famous as an incubator for young science talents and for it's advanced education program.
The school stands out from the state education system with a different curriculum, focusing on natural sciences, especially Mathematics, Physics and Programming. Due to special funding, physics and computer labs in the school are much better equipped than in the rest of state high schools in Serbia. Experimental teaching methods and programs are common in the School, and many classes are taught by Belgrade University professors from the School of Mathematics or School of Electrical Engineering. In the current school staff, 16 teachers hold PhD degrees, and 12 either MS or Ma degrees.
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[edit] History
Matematička Gimnazija was established in 1966 as a special three-year school for highly talented students, with the help of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (especially Professor Vojin Dajovic), enrolling 56 students. In 1968 the school moved to it’s present building in 37 National Front Street (Serbian Cyrilic: Народног фронта, Latin: Narodnog Fronta), now Queen Nataly Street (Serbian Cyrilic: Краљице Наталије, Latin: Kraljice Natalije). A special programming section, with a different curriculum, was introduced in 1969. In 1975, additional grade was introduced, turning the school into a four-year school.
In 1977 the school was reformed and included into the state-wide reform of Directed Higher Education (Serbian: средње усмерено образовање), cancelling any specifics and advantages over other high schools. Eleven years later, in 1988, the school was again reformed, and re-established as a special experimental school. The ‘experiment’ was finally concluded in 1995, when the school was recognised as a ‘Special school for talented students in Mathematics and Natural Sciences’ by the Serbian Ministry of Education. At the same time, the school was given the status of a ‘school of special national importance’, as the first school of such type in Yugoslavia.
Although Matematička Gimnazija is classified as a high-school (grades nine to thirteen in the Serbian education system), it started enrolling experimental classes of the seventh grade elementary school in 2004.
[edit] List of School principals
| Year | Principal |
| 1966-1968 | Ranko Radovanović |
| 1968-1970 | Dušan Adnađević |
| 1971-2001 | Milan Raspopović |
| 2001-2004 | Ljubomir Protić |
| 2004- | Vladimir Dragović |
[edit] Competitions
The school prides itself on the success of its students in various science competitions, and takes special care in preparing students for national and international competitions. According to the school web site, it’s students have won 81 medals on international Olympiads in Mathematics, 16 medals on Olympiads in Physics, 20 awards on Olympiads in Informatics and numerous other awards in regional competitions [1].
From about 7500 graduates in the 40-year history of this school, 250 have obtained PhD degrees and 400 have obtained MS degrees [2].
[edit] Today
Matematička Gimnazija has build a reputation of an elite school during nineties, leading to much more candidates then open positions, which lead to speculations about buying positions and influencing the enrolment process. Although those speculations were never confirmed, special classes were introduced in 1995 for 'paying' students which failed the enrollment exam in 1995. This compromise enabled the school to keep it's high standards, and still accommodate 'special' cases, while improving the budget.
The school now has five high-school classes (grades nine to thirteen), and two elementary-school classes (grades seven and eight). Of the five high-school classes, four are financed by the State and one is 'self-financing'.
To enroll in the high school classes, students have to pass a special Mathematics exam, different from the state-wide high-school Mathematics test. Candidates are ranked on score combining test results (maximum of 120 points) and results of previous elementary-school grades (maximum of 60 points), with preference given to outstanding achievers on competitions and receivers of national prizes during the previous year of their education. State-controlled education in Serbia is free, so there are no official enrolment fees except the exam costs. The ranking process for candidates enrolling in the elementary school classes is similar, with Mathematics exam (max. 80 points), success from the fifth and sixth grades (max. 20 points) and awards from state science competitions (40 points).
[edit] Contact information
Address: Matematička Gimnazija, Kraljice Natalije 37, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
