ARTS EDUCATION IN COMBINED PRIMARY CLASSES IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

The work in combined classrooms is very specific and demanding for primary education teachers because one teacher simultaneously performs lessons for more than one class. According to the official data from the Ministry of Education in Croatia, there are 148,233 students in the first four classes, wherein 9,879 (6,7%) students in composite classrooms classes. In combined, i.e. split-year classes, students are heterogeneous with regard to their age and abilities. Due to the nature of instruction that is complex, teachers need to be creative in the teaching methodology as well as in organizing overall lessons. Artistic subjects (music and visual arts) represent specific educational fields, and they are taught by class teachers in the first four grades of primary school. The goal of this work was to examine how primary education teachers conduct combined instruction in the artistic fields of music and visual arts with regard to age-diverse class composition. Besides, the advantages and drawbacks of such work and challenges teachers are faced with were also investigated. The research was conducted in 2023. Teachers working in two-, three-and four-year combinations participated in the study. The qualitative research method was applied, i.e. participants were interviewed in order to gain specific information, that is, a more in-depth insight into the work in combined classrooms within artistic fields. In their interview, female teachers underlined the beauty and challenge of such work with regard to peer mentoring, tolerance and mutual appreciation. The drawbacks of working in combined classes are connected to the organisation of teaching (planned and effective time use).