For the first time, since 2001, the education reform in Montenegro treats adult education in a qualitatively new way and on an equal footing with other segments of the education system.

Adult education is regulated by legal and strategic documents. The Law on Adult Education (hereafter: the Law) regulates the education and learning of adults. The Law defines the goals and principles of adult education, forms and programs of adult education, organizers of adult education, participants of adult education, plan of adult education, etc.

The Education Reform Strategy 2025 - 2035 envisages certain objectives for adult education which should be achieved in the following period. Within the Operational Objective 1.1, which deals with improving access to education and harmonizing results with the goals of sustainable development and the achievements of EU member states, it is extremely important to highlight the Measure 1.1.4, which involves increasing the participation of adults in lifelong learning and is key to creating a society that continuously improves its knowledge and skills. Through this Measure, it is ensured that adults have access to education programs that are relevant to the labor market and enables them to adapt to changing economic conditions and personal professional development plans.

Career Guidance and Counseling Strategy 2025-2030 envisages trainings for about 800 counselors in primary and secondary schools and in universities, along with the development of a mechanism for monitoring the career path of pupils, students and adult participants. Through career counseling, participants will be able to better define their professional goals, plan education in accordance with the labor market and personal ambitions, and receive support in choosing programs, career paths and employment opportunities. The establishment of the National Career Center envisages the strengthening of coordination, methodology and connection with the employment system in Montenegro. The Center will improve the work of existing school career teams and career centers at higher education institutions, ensuring access to relevant information and resources for career planning and development of all citizens.

The Government of Montenegro has identified and defined reform measures in four key policy areas within the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. One of these reforms relates to addressing mismatches in the labor market through lifelong learning and increasing the employability of graduates through practical work, including jobs in the green and digital economy. Given the current challenges related to economic development, as well as the need to speed up the key reforms in the process of accession to the European Union, Montenegro plans to implement the reforms through training and retraining of the workforce. The goal is for at least 7% of adults aged 25-64 (of which approximately 50% are women) to participate in the mentioned types of education within a timeframe of 12 months. 

The Adult Education Plan 2025 - 2029 (hereafter: the Plan) sets clear guidelines for the development of the adult education system in the next four years, with the aim of improving citizens' competencies, increasing employability and adapting education programs to contemporary social and economic needs. 

The main objectives of the Plan include:
• Improving the basic competences of adults, especially in the area of ​​literacy, digital skills and financial literacy;
• Development of programs for retraining and additional training, with an emphasis on deficient occupations and the needs of the modern economy;
• Strengthening cooperation with employers, in order to ensure that education programs correspond to the needs of the labor market;
• Support for learning in the third age, through inclusive programs for lifelong learning;
• Digitization and modernization of adult education, in order to ensure greater accessibility through e-learning and flexible teaching models.

The priority areas of Plan include the following:
• Improving the quality of education programs,
• Increasing the participation of adults in lifelong learning through improving the availability of educational offers,
• Promoting lifelong learning,
• Ensuring quality and monitoring the work of adult education organizers,
• Creation of conditions for the inclusion of Montenegro in PIAAC research.

Based on the Plan, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, at the proposal of the Center for Vocational Education, adopts the Annual Plan of adult education with activities, activity holders and the necessary means for implementation.