Abstract English is taught as a foreign language in elementary and high schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH). However, since the number of English classes per week is very limited they should be utilized in the best possible way to produce proficient users of English. Nowadays, when language proficiency is viewed as one’s ability to speak and write in the target language and not about it, the need for the proficiency evaluation in schools arises. The present study attempts to shed a spot of light on this issue, investigating two very common ways of assessing students’ knowledge in schools, namely tests and writing assignments. Hence, through the interviews with English teachers and the analysis of students’ tests and writing assignments, the current paper explores the ways in which these two measures are realized, the tasks they consist of, the type of linguistic knowledge they are used to evaluate, their levels of difficulty, and the type of corrective feedback teachers provide on both of them. The results suggest that teachers on both measure rather students’ explicit than their implicit knowledge, focusing much more on accuracy than fluency development.

UDK 631.41:633.15; 633.15:546.48 (497.6) Cadmium content in soil is an important factor which determines the content of this heavy metal in plants. However, many other factors including soil pH, content of organic matter, other trace minerals in soil which could reduce or enhance cadmium uptake by roots of plants as well as anthropogenic routes of cadmium contamination (mining, superphosphates and industry) can have an influence on the cadmium concentrations in plant tissue. A three years study was conducted to evaluate cadmium content in green mass of silage maize in certain areas of Central Bosnia region. A multiple linear regression (MLR) model was developed to predict maize tissues cadmium concentration as function of different factors such as soil cadmium content, pH of soil, organic matter in soil as well as phosphorus, potassium, zinc and iron content in soil. The results indicate huge variability of cadmium content in soil (maximum value was more than 3fold greater than the minimum value) and green mass of maize (maximum to minimum ratio greater than 100). Cadmium concentration in all investigated samples of maize was below maximum tolerable levels in ruminant nutrition. Using a stepwise multiple linear regression method, a significant model emerged (F2.14 = 55.193, p<0.001; R2 = 0.887). Significant variables were phosphorus (Beta = 0.813, p<0.001) and potassium (Beta = -0.401, p<0.005) content in soil. Soil pH, organic matter, cadmium, zinc and iron were not significant in this model. Insignificant correlation between soil and plant cadmium content (r=0.374, p=0.07) indicates that the presence of cadmium in the soil may not be the main determinant of its content in plants.

Foi com muito gosto que aceitei o convite para preparar um contributo para esta secção “Dentro da APRH”, em que se pretende dar a conhecer a vida da Associação, incentivando-se assim uma maior proximidade e envolvimento de todos os Associados. Neste caso, trata-se de refletir sobre os dois anos da vida da APRH durante os quais tive a honra de presidir à respetiva Comissão Diretiva (CD). Para responder a esta solicitação não pude deixar de revisitar as linhas programáticas apresentadas à eleição de Março de 2014. Foram quatro as grandes temáticas então consideradas: “Avanço da Ciência e Desafio da Inovação”, “Políticas Públicas”, “Internacionalização” e “Organização Interna”. Esse guião, ancorado nos objetivos estatutários da APRH, considerava essencial materializarem-se atividades destinadas a assegurar uma presença forte da APRH num momento em que se assistia à formulação e implementação de novas políticas e iniciativas para a água, quer a nível nacional, quer a nível internacional. O mandato, iniciado a 11 de Abril de 2014 e terminado a 22 de Março de 2016, foi marcado por uma realidade complexa, com mudanças de orientação política e um período de contenção financeira que exigiu um grande esforço de criatividade para que pudéssemos corporizar a agenda que tínhamos anunciado. Falando apenas de números, em jeito de balanço, foi possível organizar 35 eventos e editar dois livros e uma monografia. Toda esta informação pode ser encontrada na página web (www.aprh.pt). Aí, pode constatar-se que estes resultados foram alcançados com um trabalho articulado entre a CD, as Comissões Especializadas (CE), os Núcleos Regionais (NR), os Diretores das Revistas e um conjunto de associados que sempre disseram presente à proposta de envolvimento em várias atividades. Temos uma Associação viva, interveniente, e que, como tem vindo a ser demonstrado, emite opiniões sobre as grandes temáticas da água em variados fora e promove iniciativas em que se reflete sobre assuntos que vão desde a governância até aos mais recentes desenvolvimento técnico-científicos no domínio referido. Mas neste momento, mais do que os números, parece-nos importante perceber o enquadramento e o significado, digamos, o “fio condutor”, das iniciativas levadas a cabo. Não se trata aqui de fazer um Relatório de Atividades (isso já foi feito, como é habitual anualmente, e está disponível), ou de salientar nomes de autores, títulos ou datas de eventos, pois toda essa informação detalhada, como já foi referido, consta da página da APRH. Durante este biénio, viveu-se um período de uma forte discussão sobre a reestruturação do Grupo Águas de Portugal que ocupou intensamente o espaço mediático. Envolvemo-nos nesse debate, mas constatouse que na mesma época não apareceu a mais pequena alusão à necessidade de preservar, valorizar e gerir adequadamente o recurso que está na origem da atividades dos serviços Comissão Diretiva: Biénio 2014-15

This paper provides theoretical background and empirical research on state’s role in financial sector development, focusing on state’s role in achieving pro-poor economic growth through its activities in development of the financial sector. To this end, in the theoretical part of the paper it is explained that pro-poor growth depends on the strong private sector, while at the same time private sector development is dependent on the degree of financial sector development. Defining pro-poor growth as a set of policies aiming to reduce poverty, it is argued that pro-poor growth is dependent on financial sector development both, directly and indirectly. Financial sector development contributes to poverty reduction directly through improvement of the access to financial products/services to the poor, and indirectly through private sector’s better access to financial sources which as a consequence impacts the overall economic growth of the country. By analyzing theoretical approaches, it is shown that government policies and actions in financial sector development might positively impact private sector development, and therefore (indirectly and directly) contributes to pro-poor growth. The empirical part of the paper discusses the role of the state in financial sector development and its contribution to economic growth and poverty reduction in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), arguing that this growth needs to be pro-poor oriented as BIH is the poorest country in Europe. In order to assess state’s role in financial sector development and its implication to pro-poor growth in BIH, surveys among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and government representatives were conducted. The aim of the surveys was to analyze the perceptions of private sector participants and of government institution employees perceptions about the government role in development of the financial sector oriented to SMEs. The research shows significant disagreement between the two surveyed groups about the efforts currently being implemented by BIH government in supporting the private sector through financial sector development. It is concluded that government needs to work more closely with the private sector as well as with the financial sector so as to better identify the private sector needs and then create policies and take actions necessary for the private sector to develop, which would consequently lead to poverty reduction.