Gimnazija Bežigrad

infobox high school
name = Bežigrad Grammar School
native_name = Gimnazija Bežigrad
streetaddress = Peričeva 4
city = Ljubljana
country = SVN
coordinates = coord|46|03|51|N|14|30|42|E|display=inline,title
head of school = Janez Šušteršič
established = 1596
type = general gymasium
age range = 15-19
school_colors = orange
website = [http://www.gimb.org www.gimb.org]

Gimnazija Bežigrad (Slovene for Bežigrad Grammar school) is a coeducational nondenominational state secondary general education school for students aged between 15 to 19. It is named after the Bežigrad district in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where it is located. It is famous for its quality and for eminent alumni and is regarded as one of the best grammar schools in Slovenia.

History

The school was founded in 1596 as a Jesuit educational institution and it was located in the town center of Ljubljana, then capital of the Duchy of Carniola. In 1773 the Jesuit order was abolished and the Gymnasium became a state institution of the Habsburg Monarchy. Until 1889, it was the only grammar school in Ljubljana. In that year, the Poljane Grammar School was founded and the old institution was renamed to "First Gymnasium of Ljubljana".

Most of the education process was in German language until 1907, when the Austrian government allowed the introduction of Slovene as the main language of education in all grammar schools in Carniola, except the one in Kočevje. In the First Gymnasium of Ljubljana, special parallel classes which retained the education in German were created and the following year, they were merged in a new grammar school, called "Imperial Royal Gymnasium with German Language of Instruction in Ljubljana". The new school, known colloquially as "The German Gymnasium" or the "Third Gymnasium", was the legal predecessor of the current Bežigrad Gymnasium. According to the official statystic of the time, most pupils regarded themselves as ethnic Germans, although some Slovenes also attended the schools. After the establishment of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1918, the school was officially renamed to "Third Gymnasium in Ljubljana" and Slovene was introduced as the main language of instruction, although German parallel classes were kept until 1924. In 1929, the school was renamed to "Classical Gymnasium". In 1936, it was moved to the current location in the Bežigrad district. Among the locals, it became known as the "Bežigrad Gymnasium". In 1990, the name was adopted as the official one.

Profile

The Bežigrad Grammar School is regarded as one of the most prestigious in Slovenia. The school program is included in the project of International Baccalaureate. An International School with English as the primary language of instruction is also part of the Bežigrad Grammar School.

Famous people

Several notable professors and pupils have worked or attended Bežigrad Grammar School.

Professors:
* Božidar Bajuk, classical philologian (father of Andrej Bajuk)
* Lavo Čermelj, physicist, publicist and political activist
* Edvard Kocbek, poet and political activist
* Jani Kovačič, musician

Students:
* Barbara Brezigar, politician and jurist
* Stane Dolanc, Yugoslav Communist official and politician
* Toussaint Hočevar, historian and economist
* Katarina Kresal, politician, president of the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia
* Ljubo Sirc, economist
* Uroš Slokar, basketball player
* Bojan Štih, stage director, literary critic and essayist
* Slavoj Žižek, philosopher

External links

* [http://www.gimb.org/Pages/Prvastran.aspx Gimnazija Bežigrad: International School]