At the beginning of the siege, the citizens of Sarajevo realized that the new circumstances would last, and they organized themselves so that the educational process would not stop. Kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, and faculties organized classes in improvised and relatively protected rooms, in basements, apartments, and garages. Everyone involved in the learning process believed that education, knowledge, learning, and reading were necessary for the future and for mental survival.

The work of the University of Sarajevo during the siege had a strong symbolic role and represented a form of resistance – knowledge against barbarism. Faculties organized classes, even though many faculty buildings were on the line that was under constant shelling and regardless of the fact that students came from the most remote parts of the city. Professors and students risked their lives every day so that knowledge could be conveyed and acquired without major interruptions. Students studied, graduated, and defended doctoral dissertations during the siege.

Law Faculty

During the siege the building of the Law Faculty became a university centre. The students and professors from all departments of the Faculty of Philosophy moved into the building for safety reasons, because their building found itself on the front line. The entrance of the building faces the hills where the snipers were, so the building was entered through the back entrance.

University must stay open

„Children who spent most of their time in cellars, for them, for their mental health it was very important that they come to these lectures. And they came, even in the worst circumstances. One of my students from Kobilja Glava who had to cross Bare, for example, showed up one day during some heavy shelling and said, ‘Here I am’. I asked her, ‘Why did you come when the situation is so horrible.’ She said, ‘I had a red sweater and the sniper shot at me. Now I’ve changed it and the sniper isn’t shooting anymore, so now I can come without worrying’.“ - Ivica-Bimbo Pinjuh, Professor at the Philosophy Faculty

Faculty of Philosophy building © FAMA Collection - Visual Archives 1992-1996 (Drago Resner)

How did you study? How did you go to school / college?

I went to lectures every day. It was very dangerous to move around, but I had my own intentions and nothing could make me hesitate.

year of birth: 1975
profession: Student
gender: Male
city district: Švrakino selo

Advice for survival

„I managed to gather the strength to go and listen to lectures at minus fifteen degrees Celsius, and to study for exams as I did, and simply to keep up with my studies and not quit. Taking exams was really difficult. First of all, it was difficult to get to the Engineering School, or at least the rooms where we took our exams. But we students were always glad when a professor finally came to hold an exam that had been scheduled and then cancelled, scheduled and then cancelled again. Therefore, we simply didn’t have the time to even think about the exam, and whether we had studied enough for it. I didn’t even get nervous before my exams. We just had to get it over with and return home safely, because at that time the future was really uncertain. A person needs hope and the will to go forward. And I am glad that I didn’t ask myself, ‘why’? Finally, I would like to mention an interesting coincidence. I received my degree on the 14th of December 1995, on the same day as the Dayton Peace Accord was signed. The moment that the examination committee gave its final grade on my senior thesis. That was exactly when the Dayton Peace Accord was signed.“ - Amra Višnjić, Student

During the siege of Sarajevo, teachers and professors accepted the entire educational process as their personal responsibility, and they devised ways to organize classes for different grades and ages, to design a work program, and also to be trusted people for students in limited conditions and cramped spaces. Teaching staff in primary and secondary schools were there to provide comfort to students, to listen to them and understand them, and to give them hope that tomorrow exists and that the knowledge they acquired then would be necessary for the life after the siege. Teachers, in addition, left their families and risked their lives every day to be there for their students.

What did you do during the siege?

In the beginning, despite the shelling, we had to report and meet very often. Then the decision was made that we would work and hold classes in attics and basements, so I held classes in my apartment. Then we held classes in the school premises, in the basement, in very bad conditions (from 20-37 students in a space that is not even for 10 students or to hold classes in one room, and in the next one without a teacher, and there is no door in between and similar difficulties).

year of birth: 1937
profession: Teacher
gender: Female
city district: Čengić Vila

Registering for school

„Our principle was that during class none of the students should be harmed in any way. School principals and teachers were specifically instructed that the safety of the children must be ensured regardless of what happened to the teachers.“ - Fahrudin Isaković, Director of the Third Sarajevo Gymnasium

Class lasts 15 minutes

„Each class lasted 15 minutes.nIt was terribly cold. The pupils would carry wood to class in bags. Piece by piece, until we had gathered even the little bit that was needed to light two or three fires in order to transform that cold air into a bearable situation so that we could work. The children were writing with their gloves on and were rubbing their palms. And so I would do some physical exercises with them, exercises that would warm them up, and then we wouldn’t have to cancel classes due to the cold.“ - Dževad Ičindić, Teacher

Burnt manuscripts and documents after the destruction of the Oriental Institute in Sarajevo on May 17, 1992 © FAMA Collection - Visual Archives 1992-1996 (Željko Puljić)

Elementary and secondary school students during the siege of Sarajevo showed exceptional courage and dedication and worked every day to keep up with learning. Children read more than before, studied diligently and did their homework by candlelight. Students sometimes walked or cycled long distances so as not to miss classes. They were eager for knowledge and companionship. We talked to Selma Hodžić and Sanina Rizvanbegović about education and growing up during the siege of Sarajevo. What motivated them to go to class, study and get grades? What did grades mean to them at the time? Did school at that time, however, manage to distract students from the horrors of the siege and keep them busy with other content?

Education and growing up during the siege of Sarajevo

Selma Hodžić

Photo: Selma Hodžić, personal archives - Then (The Siege of Sarajevo, 1992-96) and Now...

Classes held in apartments, business premises, local communities

„I have to say that room in which the lessons were held was on office that had been devastated, no windows of course, some foils instead. In winter the temperature was minus 15 degrees Celsius, in summer an average of 18 tops. Then, the classes were, we went to school regularly, every day we went to school. Naturally, not when there was heavy shelling, but we always made up for that at a later time. The lessons lasted for about 30 minutes each, I mean, one class was 30 minutes long. But it was quite enough to get knowledge that today we can say that it is very solid. During a lesson, I think it was Bosnian language. We were sitting and listening to the teacher who was very interesting. Suddenly there was a bang. We all hit the ground and waited what now, what next. The teacher was very composed and calm as if nothing had happened, she said: ‘Children, stay where you are. Wait for another two minutes because there will probably be another one’.“ - Selma Hodžić, Pupil

In the FAMA Collection, in the Oral History project “The Siege of Sarajevo 92-96”, you are one of the interviewees, and as you were a student at the time, you talk about your own experience of schooling and the way classes were conducted during the siege. How old were you when the siege began, what grade were you in, and what school did you attend?

Selma Hodžić: When the siege of the city of Sarajevo began, I was 14 years old, in the eighth grade and graduating from the "Slaviša Vajner Čiča" Elementary School (today's "Isak Samokovlija" Primary School) in Marijin Dvor.

My peers from the neighbourhood also initially felt joy because we had no classes, however, the daily news, the worried faces of our parents, and our mutual communication and conversation about what was happening erased any joy from our faces.

Can you remember how you felt in the first days of the siege? Can you recall your conversations with your parents and peers about what was happening? How did your understanding of the “new normal” during the siege of the city change over the four years of the siege?

Selma Hodžić: Initially, when I heard that barricades had been erected in the city, and that for these reasons there would be no classes, I was happy, because we were preparing for the graduation ceremony towards the end of the school year. However, after a few days, when I saw that my parents had become worried, and that the barricades were just a prelude to something much worse, my joy at not going to school turned into sorrow. My peers from the neighbourhood also initially felt joy because we had no classes, however, the daily news, the worried faces of our parents, and our mutual communication and conversation about what was happening erased any joy from our faces. I remember that some of our peers were sad because they were leaving the city. When May 2nd happened, the day when Danijela Ozma Street burned down, the fear of what awaited started to haunt me, my peers, and our parents. Even today, I can smell the smell of burning that spread throughout the city. As time passed, the fears grew stronger. Since the people I was hanging out with were leaving the city every day, some without saying goodbye, my illusions that everything would be fine and that the siege would end quickly was shattered.

We are a generation that, by acquiring knowledge in the most extreme conditions, fought against the senselessness of war and the siege of the city. Today, when I look at it from this perspective, all my peers, my classmates are successful people. This is precisely the proof that the knowledge we acquired during the war was useful.

Where were classes held - in schools, shelters, basements, apartments or other adapted spaces? What was your school day like? How did you receive information about classes and materials, especially during the difficult days of shelling when communication and movement around the city were limited or impossible?

Selma Hodžić: I spent my first days of high school in a classroom located in our neighbourhood, in a room that was not meant for teaching. However, the teachers and students quickly learned how to adapt even such a room to their needs. From this perspective, I can say that it was a beautiful classroom.

Attending classes in such extreme conditions meant that all participants believed that the siege would end one day and that education should not be stopped. What motivated you and your peers to go to class, study, and get grades? What did grades mean to you back then? Did the school at that time, however, manage to distract students from the horrors of the siege and make you focus on other things?

Selma Hodžić: My classmates and I found motivation in the fact that we believed that the siege would eventually end. Our professors had a great influence on our work, because they always found interesting ways to motivate us and to make knowledge a priority. I remember that we read a lot. We are a generation that, by acquiring knowledge in the most extreme conditions, fought against the senselessness of war and the siege of the city. Today, when I look at it from this perspective, all my peers, my classmates are successful people. This is precisely the proof that the knowledge we acquired during the war was useful and that in that sense there were no shortcomings in education. That is why I have always been grateful to our professors who, despite all the problems they themselves faced, had enough strength and wisdom to teach us just as well as if the siege had never happened.

I have always been grateful to our professors who, despite all the problems they themselves faced, had enough strength and wisdom to teach us just as well as if the siege had never happened.

What event at school, a special class or the entire school day has remained in your memory?

Selma Hodžić: I remember the days when we celebrated someone's birthday or when we discussed history with our history teacher. Unfortunately, I also remember the most difficult days under siege, when shells fell while we were in class or when we heard that one of our schoolmates had been killed while returning from training.

How did you spend your free time when there were no classes?

Selma Hodžić: As I had always been into sports, I loved going for water, by bike. It was both a sport and a “household” activity. I used to drive tens of kilometres a day, in order to train, but also to do something useful for my family. Socializing during the siege with friends from the neighbourhood had a special charm, as did the first loves and kisses that happened during the difficult days of the siege.

Education and growing up during the siege of Sarajevo

Sanina Rizvanbegović

Photo: Sanina Rizvanbegović, personal archives - Then (The Siege of Sarajevo, 1992-96) and Now...

Classes held in apartments, business premises, local communities

„And in that building there was a large room with about three tables. But they weren’t desks like you have in classrooms. One class would sit around one big table, a second class around another table, and a third class around the third table. And three teachers would separately teach the three classes. And after half an hour, which was how long each period would last, instead of the normal period of 45 minutes, the teachers would switch, and we would continue with the next period. That was the first year, when we all had to be together. So, regardless of whether we were in a college preparatory program or in technical school, we were all in the same class.“ - Sanina Čampara, Pupil

In the FAMA Collection, in the Oral History project 'The Siege of Sarajevo 92-96', you are one of the interviewees, and as you were a student at the time, you talk about your own experience of schooling and the way classes were conducted during the siege. How old were you when the siege began, what grade were you in, and what school did you attend?

Sanina Rizvanbegović: When the siege began, I was 14 years old, attending the 8th grade of the "Alija Alijagić" Elementary School (today's "Malta"). As those were the last months of the second semester, in the war year of 1992, I enrolled in the First Gymnasium.

In the first days we were quite confused and scared because we didn't know what awaited us. Fear of shooting, shelling, snipers. At the same time, through conversations with our parents and peers, we had hope that it would end quickly, that it was not normal that everything that was happening to us could last for a long time.

Can you remember how you felt in the first days of the siege? Can you recall your conversations with your parents and peers about what was happening? How did your understanding of the “new normal” during the siege of the city change over the four years of the siege?

Sanina Rizvanbegović: In the first days we were quite confused and scared because we didn't know what awaited us. Fear of shooting, shelling, snipers. At the same time, through conversations with our parents and peers, we had hope that it would end quickly, that it was not normal that everything that was happening to us could last for a long time. It seems to me that this hope that it would last a few days or a few months helped us, because we thought that it was impossible for the shelling to last for a long time, i.e. that the siege of the city, the goal of which was, in addition to killing, to torture the population as much as possible, would last almost four years. This hope helped us get through the beginning and get used to the new situation in which every day was uncertain, in which every day we survived was a gift to us, an opportunity for life, because who knows what awaits us tomorrow, if we even see tomorrow.

The shelling happened daily, and gradually over the four years of the siege we had to get used to it and continue life as much as possible in conditions where we had no food, water or electricity. Humanitarian aid was an opportunity to get food, and we went to get water on locations where we knew they had water. The closest I got to getting drinking water was to go to Loris, a building on Heroes' Square that was on the front line, and I walked through our army's trench to get water and fill eight canisters to last for a short period. I walked through streets where snipers were constantly shooting, shells fell suddenly and without any warning, but I had to get used to that situation, regardless of the fact that today it seems so far away and unreal that we were going through such situations.

Photo: Sanina Rizvanbegović, personal archives (The Siege of Sarajevo, 1992-96)

I also attended music school. Those classes also took place in apartments, and playing the piano was a way to defend ourselves from the sound of grenades and snipers through music, again hoping that the time would come when music would prevail and the grenades and snipers would fall silent.

Where were classes held - in schools, shelters, basements, apartments or other adapted spaces? What was your school day like? How did you receive information about classes and materials, especially during the difficult days of shelling when communication and movement around the city were limited or impossible?

Sanina Rizvanbegović: The school was organized relatively quickly, we attended it in the basement of the KUD "Ivo Lola Ribar" and in the basements of other adapted spaces, and we attended some classes privately with the professor, if there were not many students, so I attended French and Latin with the professor in her apartment. I also attended music school. Those classes also took place in apartments, and playing the piano was a way to defend ourselves from the sound of grenades and snipers through music, again hoping that the time would come when music would prevail and the grenades and snipers would fall silent.

The school day looked like any other school day in peacetime: acquiring knowledge, writing schoolwork, studying and doing homework. We did everything on time, the only difference was that we tried to study during the day in daylight, and if we didn't make it, then we had to study by candlelight or oil lamp. We left class, not to go for coffee, but to get home as soon as possible, if we heard that shelling had started or if an attack had begun in some part of the city and we had to leave class as a precaution. However, such situations were not frequent. Classes were mandatory, we wanted to attend classes and be with our teachers and colleagues. We got used to the shooting and we knew that wherever we were at that moment, it didn't necessarily mean that somewhere else would be safer or better for us.

Since I enrolled in the First Gymnasium after elementary school, classes took place in basements and adapted spaces for less than two years, and then we moved to the school building, which is located on Drvenija. Every day I walked from Dolac Malta to school and back. Those were very challenging situations, because when I said goodbye to my parents and brother in the morning, I didn't know if I would see them in the afternoon. Shells were falling in all parts of the city, snipers were shooting at all the intersections that I crossed (¨ran¨) to get to school, and I couldn't contact them because we had no communication, there were no cell phones, and the phones didn't work because there was usually no electricity.

We were all aware that this might be our last day, no matter how young we were.

Attending classes in such extreme conditions meant that all participants believed that the siege would end one day and that education should not be stopped. What motivated you and your peers to go to class, study, and get grades? What did grades mean to you back then? Did the school at that time, however, manage to distract students from the horrors of the siege and make you focus on other things?

Sanina Rizvanbegović: Attending classes, socializing with peers, exchanging experiences with professors, acquiring knowledge, learning - all of that was the motivation to focus on the fact that we had to grow as if nothing was happening. We never lost hope that the war would end one day and that we would have to continue, if we were given the chance to continue our lives. We were all aware that this might be our last day, no matter how young we were. We also knew that education is something that no one can take away from us, it is something that will remain with us for the rest of our lives. Grades were a validation of acquired knowledge. It may sound strange to someone today that, but while we were trying to survive and get to school, it was important for us to get an excellent grade. We had to divert our thoughts, we had to study, do homework, fight to get a good grade, a confirmation that you had learned, that the candle had not been wasted. We were very mature for our age and then, like today, I thought that the educational process was very important. We invested in ourselves and our education, because that also gave us hope that we would resume a normal life when the war ended.

Every moment was fulfilling for me, regardless of the fact that life unfolded between grenades and sniper fire, without food, water, and electricity, but it continued, it had to.

What event at school, a special class or the entire school day has remained in your memory?

Sanina Rizvanbegović: During that war, every hour, every day was special. Coming to school, getting ready for a class that you're not sure you'll have the chance to attend, was special. The only lucky thing in all of this is that I can't single out a special event right now, because nothing tragic happened at school or on the way to school. That would be something I would single out, but the positive and special thing is that there was no such event, although for many people these events happened, unfortunately.

Photo: Sanina Rizvanbegović, personal archives (The Siege of Sarajevo, 1992-96)

How did you spend your free time when there were no classes?

Sanina Rizvanbegović: Free time was dedicated to the standard interests of teenagers at that time. If school was a priority and obligation, then we had to do all the other things that were happening in those years - going out with friends, going to nearby cafes until curfew and mandatory watching theatre plays that our artists tirelessly created even in the most difficult times. I remember visiting the play - musical "Hair" at the Kamerni Teatar 55. I will never forget the happiness and excitement after watching "Hair". In addition, in early 1994, I started spending my free time on ISV radio, as a music show host. If it seems absurd to someone that we are studying while the siege is going on, how does it sound that we were broadcasting shows, music charts and collecting information about new songs that we presented to listeners who mostly did not have electricity!

While I was working at ISV Radio, in 1995 I started working at TV BiH in the Cultural and Entertainment Program, I hosted the show "RAT-ART" which for those who occasionally had electricity was and remains one of the most favourite shows of that time. I even walked to the RTV building regardless of the shelling, so the strength and willpower of a young person was stronger than the horrors that happened to us every day.

According to what I wrote, every moment was fulfilling for me, regardless of the fact that life unfolded between grenades and sniper fire, without food, water, and electricity, but it continued, it had to.