A/HRC/25/49/Add.1
The various levels of government should create an environment conducive to
cooperation and working relations among all cultural institutions, without
interference from political actors.
104. Reforming the education system to end the segregation of pupils according to
national/ethnic affiliation in both the two-schools-under-one-roof system and mononational/ethnic schools is vital and urgent. For this, efforts must be pursued to
implement a common core curriculum and to increase the number of subjects in
which children learn together, regardless of background, including in those labelled
“integrated schools” (where in fact interaction is minimal). The Special Rapporteur
recommends that:
(a)
Steps be taken to increase significantly the number of joint cultural
activities between students across communities within two-schools-under-one-roof
schools and between mono-national/ethnic schools;
(b)
The right of all pupils and students to learn in their mother tongue and
to have access to the cultural heritage of their particular community as well as those of
all others be guaranteed. Children should learn the three official languages of Bosnia
and Herzegovina, and both the Cyrillic and Latin alphabets, as necessary tools for full
access to their cultural heritage.
105. Neither history nor literature should be manipulated to indoctrinate students
into believing in mutually exclusive and antagonistic identities.
106. Efforts should be increased to ensure a comparative and multi-perspective
approach in history teaching, to develop a multi-voice narrative that acknowledges
different viewpoints, and to promote critical thinking, analytic learning and debate
among students.37 The Special Rapporteur recommends that:
(a)
textbooks;
Authorities at all levels pursue their efforts to raise the quality of history
(b)
A wide array of textbooks by a range of publishers be accredited. The
curriculum should allocate a certain amount of time (at least 30 per cent) for teachers
to introduce supplementary material, especially primary historical resources, without
prior approval by the ministry;
(c)
Transparent approval and accreditation procedures and criteria for
textbook selection be adopted, relying on expertise in history and pedagogy, not
particular ideological and political requirements. Those procedures should include,
for example, open tenders in which all publishers may bid equally, and independent
expert committee reviews to ensure that textbooks meet required standards.
(d)
Cooperation among researchers of various communities be envisaged
and promoted, such as inviting them to review each other’s textbooks for comments.
107. The State and the entities should ensure that children have access to literature
offering diverse viewpoints and mutual understanding.
108. Respecting, protecting and promoting academic freedoms across the whole
territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina is vital. This includes the freedoms to choose
research subjects, to have access to information, including archives, without
discrimination, to collaborate and exchange views with others, to disseminate results
37
See A/68/296.
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