Free textbooks arrive from August 11th, distribution through three cycles

The distribution of free textbooks for elementary schools will begin on August 11th and will last until the end of the month, the director of the Institute for Textbooks and Teaching Aids (ZUNS) told "Vijesti" Aleksandra Hajduković.

Considering that, explains Hajduković, this is a large quantity of textbooks, the distribution will be carried out through three cycles:

"These dates are the second week of August for students from first to third grade, the third week for students from fourth to sixth grade, and the last week for seventh, eighth, and ninth grade. This distribution scheme has also made it easier to check the quantities delivered in previous years. The Institute for Textbooks and Teaching Aids therefore distributes and delivers sets of textbooks to primary schools, and it is the obligation of these educational institutions to further classify the received sets, according to the lists of classes and students."

Hajduković emphasizes that all elementary school students will use new English language books starting this school year.

"These are textbooks from the renowned foreign publisher 'Pearson'. These sets consist of a textbook and a workbook with a code that allows students and teachers to access a digital platform, which contains audio materials and other additional 'tools' for high-quality mastery of the English language. In Albanian, this year, the new textbook sets are Albanian Language for students from the first to the seventh grade of primary school (textbook and workbook, while the teacher's manual will be available in online form on the Institute's website - zuns.me). Also new are textbooks for Music Culture 1, 2 and 3, as well as Visual Culture 1, 2, 3 and 8", she specified.

Asked about the many years of warnings from parents that certain textbooks for elementary schools, especially for lower grades, are overcomplicated and outdated, she points out that this is a "problem that has existed in previous years."

"The problem you are talking about has existed in previous years. When it is necessary to create a new textbook, certain legal procedures must be followed to implement the work. We emphasize that the textbooks currently in use are fully in line with the existing curricula. However, the new Education Reform Strategy for the period from 2025 to 2035 envisages that new curricula will be developed in 2028, which means that only after the adoption of the new plans will the development of new textbooks begin," she explained.

Prices of sets for high school students remain unchanged

Hajduković points out that the distribution of high school textbooks to the bookstore network in Montenegro is also planned for the second half of August.

“…Both to the Institute's bookstores and to private ones, based on their needs, which they submit to ZUNS. I would like to point out that textbooks for high school students and textbooks from all general subjects for students of secondary vocational schools are being distributed, while books published by the Institute for textbooks and teaching aids for narrowly specialized subjects, necessary for the regular teaching of various vocational courses, will be available in PDF format, mainly during September, on the Institute's website - zuns.me. A portion of textbooks for students of secondary vocational schools will also be on sale, as in previous years,” says Hajduković.

According to her, the prices of textbooks for high school students this year are the same as in previous years.

"We remind you that the set for the first grade costs 106,9 euros, for the second 90,4 euros. The set of textbooks for third-grade students of Montenegrin high schools costs 89,9 euros, and for high school graduates 83,8 euros."

The institute, Hajduković explains, is preparing textbooks for the implementation of the bilingual teaching program in high schools for the next school year, for the subjects Biology, Physics and Mathematics.

"These are textbook sets from the first to the fourth general direction in gymnasiums in English, and they will consist of a textbook and a collection of tasks, or a workbook. A History textbook for all four grades of bilingual education is also being prepared. For gymnasium students who attend classes in the Albanian language, several new textbooks are currently in print. We emphasize that the new Biology for the first grade of gymnasium - a textbook and a workbook, Chemistry - also a textbook and a workbook, as well as a Geography textbook for the second grade of gymnasium," said the director of the Institute.

New titles for vocational schools

According to her, when it comes to students of secondary vocational schools, they will, as before, be able to download certain professional books in PDF format from the Institute's website, while textbooks for general education subjects can be purchased in bookstores. "We are listing new titles that relate to certain professional subjects and that will enrich the textbook literature for students of secondary vocational schools from this year. These are Business Economics in Tourism and Hospitality for the first grade of vocational schools, which will be available to students online at the beginning of September. It is expected that students will be able to download the textbook Financial Operations in Tourism and Hospitality for the second grade of vocational schools from the Institute's website at the end of September, after approval by the National Council. The textbook Sales Jobs for the second grade of secondary trade schools will be available in electronic form on the ZUNS website as early as early September, and according to the editor of the publication, it will also represent a significant relief in the work of teachers. Basics of Sales Techniques for the first grade of secondary vocational schools will also be available on the Institute's website in PDF format at the beginning of September," said Hajduković.

She also points out that the Electronic Communications textbook for the first grade of vocational schools is already available in digital form.

"The textbook Digital Electronics for the third grade of electrical engineering school, for the educational program Electrical Engineer Electronics, will be available for download from the zuns.me website by the end of December. The textbook Pharmacognosy for the third grade of the educational program Pharmaceutical Technician is also new. Students will also use this textbook in digital form. We would like to mention another interesting title - a Manual for Working with Students Talented in Language and Writing, entitled 'Word Game', which will be posted as an electronic supplement on the zuns.me website, and will represent an important tool for working with gifted children. From general education subjects, the new one is the Collection of Tasks with Elements of Theory from the Subject Mathematics for the First Grade of Secondary Vocational School and will be available for purchase in bookstores at the end of August. The Reader for Secondary Vocational School Graduates, which was printed back in March 2024, is also new," says Hajduković.

Benefits…

The Institute, says Hajduković, as in previous years, has provided incentives for the purchase of textbooks to parents of students in grammar schools and secondary vocational schools. “The Institute has a long-standing cooperation with a number of trade union organizations, which are enabled to purchase textbooks and school supplies in installments in the Institute's bookstores. In this sense, at least two and a maximum of six installments can be formed, depending on the amount of the purchase. We emphasize that owners of certain bank cards are also enabled to purchase in installments. This is the period of the year when the family budget is burdened with numerous other necessary expenses. We believe that information on the conditions for purchasing books and school supplies during this period of the year is very important for parents and students in order to plan expenses that burden the family budget, but also for the purpose of signing contracts on installment purchases with the Institute for those trade union organizations that have not yet done so, and whose employees need to afford themselves a discount in purchasing books and school supplies,” said Hajduković. The Institute also cooperates with some youth organizations in Montenegro, through which discounts are provided.

Hajduković also reminded that the Institute has its own bookstores in Podgorica, Bijelo Polje, Nikšić and Bar.

“Figo” for preschoolers

Hajduković also reminds us that the Institute, in cooperation with the Zagreb publishing house "Profil", prepared a modern teaching tool for working with children in preschool institutions about ten years ago.

"This tool was approved by the National Council for General Education, and it is the FIGO program. It is a set of worksheets for preschoolers that encourage children to think and learn creatively in the simplest way," she specified.