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1. National Strategy

2. Formal education: main policy measures on ELET

3. Addressing ELET through non-formal and informal learning and quality youth work

4. Cross-sector coordination and monitoring of ELET interventions

National Strategy

According to Eurostat data for 2022, Croatia has a low rate (2.3%) of early leaving from education and training. There is currently no dedicated strategy addressing this issue, but several existing strategies and documents touch upon this problem. 

The Strategy of Education, Science and Technology includes several measures aimed at addressing the issue of early leaving from education and training. The Strategy was adopted in October 2014. The government authority responsible for implementing, coordinating, and monitoring the document is the Ministry of Science and Education (MSE).

The Strategy for Lifelong Career Guidance in the Republic of Croatia 2016-2020also addresses this issue. It was adopted in October 2015. The government authority responsible for the implementation, coordination, and monitoring of the document is the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy (MLPSFSP). 

The MLPSFSP adopted the new Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan 2022-2023. In the Strategy for Lifelong Career Guidance in the Republic of Croatia 2016-2020 (p. 13), it states: ‘The Youth Guarantee represents a structural reform that will enable quick activation for young people aged 15–30 within four months of leaving education system or losing employment in order to stay connected to the labour market and avoid long-term unemployment or inactivity.’

Formal education: main policy measures on ELET

In the Strategy of Education, Science and Technology there are four proposed measures addressing the issue of early leaving from education and training.

• Develop and introduce a system of early recognition of school-leaving risks (Measure 6.4.1) 
• Implement systematic monitoring and research on the causes of early school leaving (Measure 6.4.2)
• Develop and introduce support measures for students who are at risk of early school leaving at the level of education institutions and in cooperation with other institutions (Measure 6.4.3)
• Develop compensatory mechanisms and flexible curricula for the acquisition of relevant qualifications, adapted to the specific needs and capabilities of students who are reintegrating back into the education system (Measure 6.4.4)

The MSE is responsible for these goals, while the implementation falls under the responsibility of various operators, depending on the individual goals.

The goal of these measures is to identify the cause of early leaving from education and training, systematically prevent it, and provide support to those at risk of leaving education early.

The Strategy for Lifelong Career Guidance in the Republic of Croatia 2016-2020 includes measures to prevent early leaving from education:

Drawing up a legislative framework to implement the service of lifelong career guidance with clearly defined responsibilities and authorities (Measure 1.1.1). The goal is to increase students’ skill levels in career management and consequently reduce the probability of early leaving from education due to inadequate selection of an education programme.

The Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan also provides measures for staying in education:

• Ensuring that students with disabilities have access to education assistants in primary and secondary educational institutions, to provide support for students with disabilities, behaviour issues, and learning disabilities. The carrier of this measure is the MSE, while the implementation associates include units of local and regional self-government and the schools. 
• Providing financial support for the continued education of students who have completed two-year and three-year vocational programmes, to foster lifelong education and enable their transition to a four-year vocational education programme. The target groups are users at special risk and student groups at high risk. The carrier of this measure is the MSE, while the implementation associates include units of local and regional self-government, as well as schools and educational institutions. 
• The development and implementation of matriculation exam preparations for young people aged 18-25 who lack the necessary skills and knowledge to progress to higher education. The carrier of this measure is the MSE, while the implementation associates include secondary school institutions, educational institutions, local and regional institutions, as well as public and private providers of matriculation exam preparation services.
• Establishing a registry of human potential to monitor individuals from the beginning of their education to their employment. The carrier of this measure is the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy (MLPSFSP), and the implementation associates include the MSE, the Croatian Employment Service (CES), and the Central Registry of Affiliates (REGOS). 

Addressing ELET through non-formal and informal learning and quality youth work

The Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan provides measures, reforms, and initiatives aimed at ensuring early intervention and youth empowerment. The following measures are proposed:

• Establishing a system to track individuals not in education, employment, or training (NEET) by systematically analysing the demographics of education leavers. The carrier of this measure is the former Ministry of Labour and Pension System, and the implementation associates include the MSE, the CES, the former Ministry of Demographics, Family, Youth and Social Policy, the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute (CPII), and REGOS.
• Providing opportunities for young people leaving education, including education programmes for young people with low qualifications or without any qualifications. The goal is to ensure a second chance for young people with the lowest level of education and to prevent or stop their long-term unemployment. This measure is aimed at about 1600 young people who drop out of the education system, as well as those with the lowest level of education or without any education. The carrier of the measure is the CES, and the implementation associates include the former Ministry of Labour and Pension System and education services providers.
• Providing training for youth counsellors and career counsellors. The aim is to improve support for early education leavers by enhancing their ability-based qualification access and upgrading career management skills. The carrier of the measure is the CES, and the implementation associates include the Ministry of Labour and Pension System, the MSE, and local administration. The Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan envisions the development and implementation of an evaluation programme for non-formal and informal learning based on the qualification standard in the Croatian Qualifications Framework Register. This is intended to help NEET youth attain higher qualifications. The carrier of this measure is the MSE, and the implementation associates include secondary education institutions, as well as local and regional educational institutions. 
• The Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan also lists empowering youth-led and for-youth organisations involved in youth work. However, they were only mentioned in a general sense without specifying the specific area of empowerment.

The KA1 project under the Erasmus+ programme ’Preventing Early School Leaving through Inclusive Strategies’ addressed the issue of early school leaving. The Education and Teacher Training Agency is responsible for implementing the initiative on the Croatian side. A professional training course for teachers is scheduled. The goal of the project is to train educational employees to work in schools using methods and techniques to prevent early leaving from education. This is intended to enhance the working conditions for students, teachers, principals, and professional associates. 

Cross-sector coordination and monitoring of ELET interventions

Monitoring and intervention coordination were previously described as components of the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan. These measures involve the coordination among the MLPSFSP, the MSE, the Central State Office for Demography and Youth, the CES, the CPII, and the providers of educational services.