The legislation on education is passed by the Assembly (Parliament) of the Republic of Montenegro, and the competent body is the Ministry of Education and Science, responsible for all the important aspects of pre-school, elementary, secondary and higher education. 

The elementary school is founded as a public institution in the state ownership, while elementary schools for artistic education, elementary schools for adults and secondary schools, as public institutions, can be founded in either state, private or mixed ownership. Pre-schools can be established as state, private, mixed and cooperative ownership institutions.

Elementary and secondary schools are managed by school boards while the principals are responsible for the direct running of their activities. School boards and the principals are appointed by the Ministry of Education and Science for the term of office of four years.

The teaching staff must have adequate qualifications: a university degree and pass the professional (state) examination. The education is free except for textbooks and accessories/gear the cost of which is borne by the family. For financing education and investment (school buildings) maintenance the Budget of the Republic apportions around 30% of its revenues.

Structure of the educational system in Montenegro

Basic data on pre-school institutions, elementary and secondary schools in 1997-98

There are 19 nurseries/kindergartens in Montenegro hosting around 25% of the children's population; 164 elementary schools attended by 76,968 pupils; and 44 secondary schools with 30,317 students. Also, five specialized institutions for children with disrupted development (543 students) and 7 classes of such students within regular elementary schools (with 102 students). Elementary schools can have the maximum of 40 and the secondary up to 35 classes, and the number of students varies from 10 in small village schools to 36 in elementary and to 45 in secondary schools in cities.

Educational policy

Curriculum and syllabus. - Elementary and secondary schools in Montenegro provide instruction in line with the unique curricula and syllabuses prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Science which are frequently updated/innovated to conform to the requirements of modern times. The reform of schooling is under way.

Regular instruction in elementary and secondary schools starts on 1 September and ends on 10 June at the elementary and on 5 June at the secondary level.

A school period lasts 45 minutes. The instruction is provided in Serbian and in the languages of national/ethnic minorities in the areas where such population is in larger numbers. In the areas in which live the communities of both Yugoslav peoples and of national minorities/ethnic groups, schools are organized or classes within them with bilingual instruction.

To enter a secondary school the pupils have to sit for the entrance examination and upon completion of the school they take the final examination (matura, baccalaureate).

Adult education. - The adults receive their elementary education according to a special program in elementary schools or adult classes, or by sitting for the class (all-subjects) examinations. They can get their secondary education in specially organized schools or classes or by taking examinations.

The quality of instruction and professional advancement of teachers. - The control of the quality of instruction is exercised by the educational inspectors during their visits to classes of all subjects and through testing students every or every other school year. The reports of the inspectors are sent both to schools and to the Ministry. The Department for Development and Programming does the analyses of textbooks and, together with the Inspectorate, organizes courses, seminars and workshops with the aim of improving the elementary and secondary teachers' performance.

The University

The University of Montenegro is a public institution located in Podgorica. In its scientific, legal and economic aspects it is autonomous. A university unit (faculty, department) can be founded by juristic or natural persons. The supervision of the legality of the work of the University and its departments is exercised by the Ministry of Education and Science.

The studying is carried out according to the set plan and program (curricula/syllabuses), and the subjects are general, core (main) and optional. The examination terms are January, June and September.

A student may enroll in the next year if they have passed a prescribed number of examinations with that up to two subject examinations from the previous year may not be passed.

The decision on the number of students to enroll in the first year of a university department whose founder is the Republic is made by the Government following the proposal by the University. To enroll the studies at a department one takes a qualifying/entrance examination. The students satisfying the set requirements may win a scholarship and/or a place in one of the eight dormitories. Foreigners may enroll in the first year of studies or post-graduate courses under the same conditions as the citizens of the Republic of Montenegro/FR Yugoslavia provided that they cover the cost of their studies. In the academic year 1998-99 the enrollment in the first year was 1,262 students whose education was paid by the state, 698 who paid themselves and 95 foreign subjects. The total student population of the University of Montenegro is 10,219.