Požega High School Class Achieves 100% University Enrollment on State Budget

In a remarkable display of academic achievement, all 32 students from the natural sciences and mathematics class at Gimnazija Požega have secured places in state-funded university programs. This success story stands in contrast to prevailing narratives about declining interest in higher education, particularly within Serbia.

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We all help each other. It was a very good experience in this school.

The graduates have been accepted into a range of demanding fields, with the majority enrolling in the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Electrical Engineering (ten students) and the Faculty of Organizational Sciences (six students). Other popular choices include architecture, mechanical engineering, mathematics, and physics. Notably, all these placements are on the state budget, highlighting the students' academic prowess and the competitive nature of their admissions.

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The biggest help was that we helped each other. Everyone could step in for a task, a subject, or anything similar. And that contributed the most to achieving such results.

Students attributed their success to a combination of diligent preparation and strong peer support. Miloš Jovanović, now studying at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, emphasized the collaborative environment, stating, "We all help each other. It was a very good experience in this school." Uroš Salović from the Faculty of Organizational Sciences added that mutual assistance with challenging tasks was crucial. Sara Marjanović, also a FON student, noted that while they had long-term goals, having backup options was also important for achieving their primary choices.

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Mostly we knew quite a bit in advance. And we prepared accordingly. But everyone had that dose of uncertainty. And everyone had to find a backup option. We managed to achieve our first choices.

Their class teacher, Nataša Protić, expressed pride and surprise at the collective accomplishment. She maintained close contact with the students throughout their application process, monitoring their progress. The data indicates a significant trend of increased enrollment in Serbian universities this year, despite a smaller overall number of high school graduates. This suggests a growing recognition among younger generations of the value of higher education and its link to future employment opportunities.

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In a way, yes. Because I think that year by year the level of education among young people is more represented. I think students take university more seriously, and later employment in certain companies.