SCHOOL RECEIVES TWO MODERN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE CLASSROOMS

BERKOVIĆI, OCTOBER 16 /SRNA/ - The Njegoš Primary School in Berkovići has received two fully renovated and modernly equipped Russian language classrooms, thanks to the Russian Humanitarian Mission.

Following the handover of the classrooms, Executive Director of the Russian Humanitarian Mission in the Balkans Branimir Nešić said that this was the first time they had renovated and equipped such classrooms in Republika Srpska, with an investment of BAM 45,000.

"This is our `Smart Classroom` project, which we have been implementing for more than 10 years, primarily in Serbia, where we have completed seven such projects. We plan to continue working on similar projects in Republika Srpska, particularly in communities where Russian language learning is well established," Nešić told reporters.

He expressed satisfaction that the classrooms had been renovated in Berkovići, where Russian has been taught continuously for more than 70 years and cultural and social ties with the Russian Federation have been maintained. He also noted that pupils at the school achieve good results with the help of a teacher who has been teaching Russian there for 40 years.

He recalled that the Russian Mission had also cooperated with universities in Banja Luka and Istočno Sarajevo, where two Russian centres had been established and equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

Adviser at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in BiH Yuri Pichugin expressed satisfaction that the classrooms had been equipped in Berkovići, in the heart of Herzegovina, which he described as a hub connecting Republika Srpska with Russia and said would further strengthen ties between the two brotherly peoples.

Pichugin added that pupils from Berkovići had participated in numerous Russian language and poetry Olympiads and competitions, prompting the Russian Mission to renovate the classrooms in the municipality.

He noted that the Russian Humanitarian Mission had been operating in Serbia for around 20 years and in Republika Srpska for around 10 years, implementing numerous projects, including the organization of a Mobile Clinic, through which Serbian and Russian doctors examined residents in hard-to-reach areas.

"Five years ago, the Mission equipped the roof of the Bileća Health Centre with solar panels," Pichugin recalled.

Berkovići Municipal Mayor Bojan Samardžić said the new classrooms would provide even better conditions for teaching and learning Russian, as well as for further familiarizing pupils with the literature, traditions and culture of the Russian people.

School Principal Ljubiša Šetka said that the ceilings and walls had been renovated, the laminate flooring and boards replaced, and air conditioning installed. The school had also received a smartboard for the first time.

He added that all 62 pupils from sixth to ninth grade studied Russian as their second foreign language and achieved outstanding results in competitions. He expressed hope that the new classrooms would also host regional or Republika Srpska-level Russian language competitions.

Representatives of the Russian Humanitarian Mission also donated two diesel generators for the needs of the Berkovići municipal fire service.