Main trends in young people's participation in education and training
 

The general trend in terms of education and training in Montenegro shows that in the last decade the emphasis is on inclusive education, equal opportunities education, development of key competencies, mobility of students, promotion of Europass documents and career counseling, digitization of education, harmonization of education with the modern labor market, curriculum modernization. The general trend is confirmed by studies and manuals published and promoted in Montenegro:
 

Inclusive education and equal opportunities education
 

•    From integrative to inclusive education: in step with needs  
•    Education policy for students at risk and students with disabilities in Southeast Europe
 

Development of key competencies 
 

•    Education for life: Key competencies for the 21st century in curricula in Montenegro
 

Career counseling
Career guidance and counseling in VET schools 
 

•    Use of social networks in career guidance 
•    Career guidance and counseling system in Montenegro
 

Conducting interviews with students 
 

Questionnaires for different age groups as a tool in the career guidance and counseling process

•    A guide on rights from the pupil and student standard
•    A guide for the recognition of foreign educational documents
•    A guide through the system of non-formal education in Montenegro
 

Europass and mobility 
 

•    A study on mobility and scholarship programs for students and academic staff 
 

A guide on completing the Europass Certificate Supplement 
 

Europass language passport and Europass mobility  
 

Europass CV 

A guide through Europass in Montenegro  
 

Digitalization of education and compliance of education with a modern labor market 
In the Program of Economic Reforms 2022-2024, two priority measures in the field of education are recognized, which directly affect young people: digitization of the education system and adult education in accordance with the needs of the labor market.  (Program of economic reforms for Montenegro 2022-2024) Furthermore, Montenegro has also adopted the 2022-2027 Education System Digitalization Strategy.

Organization of the education and training system

Education in Montenegro takes place at 4 levels - preschool, primary, secondary, and higher education. The General law on education and training regulates the organization and conditions for carrying out educational work in the areas of: preschool education, primary education, secondary general education, professional education, education and training of persons with disabilities and adult education, while higher education is regulated by the Law on Higher Education.
 

The Ministry of Education is in charge of conducting educational policy at all levels. In addition to the Ministry, the following professional institutions are involved in the regulation and improvement of specific areas:  
Bureau for Education Services , ensures the quality of educational work in institutions and performs development, advisory, research and professional work in the areas of: preschool education, primary education, secondary general education, general education in vocational education, education of children with disabilities, and education on students' campuses;
 

Center for Vocational Education performs development, advisory, research, professional work and determining and ensuring the quality of educational work in the field of professional education and adult education;
Examination center   performs external verification of the  standard of knowledge and skills achieved by students, that is, training participants; and
Institute for textbooks and teaching aids has primarily a publishing activity.

More information about the organization of education in Montenegro is presented on the Eurydice platfom:

Laws and strategies which regulate education in Montenegro:

General Law on Education:

Law on Higher Education:

Law on Adult Education: 

Strategy on Inclusive Education in Montenegro (2019-2025)

Strategy on Early Preschool Education (2021-2025)

Strategy on Higher Education (2022-2026) is in adoption stage.

Adult Education in Montenegro
 

Adult education is an important component of lifelong learning. Lifelong learning is achieved through various forms of formal, non-formal, informal and self-directed learning. 

PISA testing
 

Montenegro participated in PISA testing in 2006 and 2018. Montenegro ranked 52nd among 79 countries in the 2018 PISA test, as announced on the OECD website. In the last PISA test, Montenegro was in 59th place. More information about the PISA test results can be found at:
 

Main concepts

Early school dropout 
 

Early school dropout is an obstacle to economic growth and employment, reduces productivity and competitiveness, and leads to increased poverty and social exclusion. Considering the importance of having a qualification in the modern world on a psychological and sociological level, as well as the losses that the entire society suffers in the event of a lack of qualification among young people, it is very important to continuously monitor school dropout and implement measures in the direction of its reduction and prevention.
Future trends and efforts in education in Montenegro will relate, among other things, to the prevention of early school leaving.

Non-formal Education
 

Lifelong learning is realized through different forms of formal education, non-formal education and self-directed learning. Non-formal education is education or learning that individuals have an intention to acquire; it has structured goals, time and support, but is not part of the formal education system. An individual participates in various forms of non-formal education and learning in order to acquire and improve knowledge, skills, and competences. The knowledge, skills and competences acquired in this way can be verified and proven through the process of obtaining a national professional qualification and key skills. Facilitating the acquisition of professional qualifications and key skills through the system of non-formal education is extremely important for the development of the individual and society. This means that persons who do not have a qualification and persons who possess a qualification that is not in demand on the labor market, can acquire a professional qualification through non-formal education programs that enables a better status on the labor market.
Non-formal education is more detailed described in A guide through the system of non-formal education in Montenegro.

Education of Children with Disabilities 
 

The education of children with disabilities in Montenegro (children with special educational needs) is part of the unique educational system and is mandatory from the moment the child's special educational needs are determined. The education of this category of children is prescribed by the Law on Education of Children with Special Educational Needs. 
More detailed information can be found on the Eurydice platform Montenegro | Eurydice (europa.eu)

Inclusive education
 

The development of inclusive education is one of the set priorities of education reform in Montenegro. Inclusive education means that all children and young people, with and without disabilities or difficulties, learn together in a variety of mainstream educational settings (pre-school, college/school, post-secondary, and university) with appropriate support.

Vocational education
 

Vocational education is the education and training of students to perform professional jobs of various levels and complexity for further education (Law on Vocational Education)

Key competencies 
 

Key competencies are defined by the European reference framework of key competences for lifelong learning, which was adopted as a recommendation of the EU Parliament and the EU Council (2006/962/EC) in 2006, and revised by Recommendation 2018/C-189/01 in 2018. They represent a kind of change in educational doctrine that shifts the focus of education towards the acquisition of functional knowledge, the interactive use of technology, knowledge and skills, the ability to communicate with heterogeneous groups and autonomous action. Key competences represent the foundation of employability and flexibility in the global economy, and are one of the answers to the challenges of the post-modern era in which changes are accelerating, and the complexity, and interdependence of the local and global are increasing.

Student mobility
 

Student mobility, as one of the most important achievements of the Bologna process, is also applied in the higher education system of Montenegro. A student has the right to spend a certain amount of time (semester or study year) at another institution of higher education through the student exchange program. Also, students can be in mobility programs based on bilateral agreements between universities.
Numerous mobility programs and scholarship programs of foreign governments are implemented in Montenegro. More details about mobility programs and opportunities for young people can be found on the platform of the Ministry of Education - INFOEduco

Adult education 
 

Adult education in Montenegro is regulated by Law on Adult Education