2025

Amendments to the Laws and Regulations

At the session held on 30 July 2025, the Parliament of Montenegro adopted the Law on Amendments to the General Law on Education. The Amendments aim to create conditions for ensuring and improving the quality of school work. The most important improved provisions of the Law are as follows: The director of a public institution is selected on the basis of a public competition, the program of development of the institution's competencies, knowledge and abilities. The Law stipulates that the employment relationship of the director of a public institution in the position from which he was elected is suspended during the second term. The same applies to the assistant director. The provisions relating to the conditions for the dismissal of directors of institutions have been improved. The condition for dismissal, among other things, may be the failure to enforce court decisions, failure to take measures to prevent and combat peer violence, etc. The provisions related to the conditions for dismissing directors of institutions have been improved. The condition for dismissal, among other things, may be failure to execute court decisions, failure to take measures to prevent and suppress peer violence, etc. The provisions related to the employment of teachers have been improved. The criteria for hiring teachers are defined: the average grade or the index of success in studies, the waiting time for employment at the appropriate level of education and the length of fixed-term employment at the appropriate level of education.

The rights, obligations and responsibilities of parents are are comprehensively defined as support for student achievements and respect for the institution's work rules. The Law stipulates that the following are not allowed in the institution: physical, psychological and social violence, abuse and neglect of children and students, physical punishment and personal insults, as well as sexual abuse of children and students or employees. The institutions initiate appropriate proceedings against persons who commit violence, abuse and neglect, in accordance with the Law. The Law also regulates career guidance as support for an individual of any age to make decisions regarding the choice of education and occupation. The Law introduces digital textbooks and digital content. Provisions related to the area of ​​quality assurance are specified. The institution is obliged to carry out the self-evaluation process every year to determine the quality of two areas, one of which is teaching and learning, and every two years as a whole on the basis of self-evaluation and external evaluation. The Law also regulates the area related to online teaching in case of interruption of classes (epidemics, natural disasters, etc.).

At the session held on 12 June 2025, the Parliament of Montenegro adopted the Law on Amendments to the Law on Gymnasium. The Amendments aim to improve the quality of gymnasium school education through a clearer definition of certain provisions and harmonization with the provisions of the General Law on Education. The most important improved provisions of the Law are as follows: the number of classification periods (semesters) has been harmonized with the General Law on Education. Instead of 4, the academic year is divided into two classification periods. Accordingly, the number of grades that students must have in order for their final grades to be formed in the semester/academic year has been specified. Written knowledge testing can also be organized during supplementary classes. A class can have a maximum of students (instead of the previous 32). Students of the Mathematical Gymnasium, in addition to the subject Analysis with Algebra, can also take Mathematics at the Matura exam. Students whose regular status has been terminated due to 30 or more unexcused absences, as well as students who have been given the educational measure of expulsion from school, are required to attend preparatory classes in the amount of 20% of the total annual number of classes for a specific educational program.

The Law on Amendments to the Law on Primary Education stipulates that the classification period represents a semester, instead of the previous definition that it represents a part of a semester (school year). In this regard, the assessment of students in all grades is carried out during the classification period, i.e. at the end of each classification period, grades from the curriculum, behavior, as well as general success are determined. The number of hours that primary school teachers are required to complete within a forty-hour work week, so that the norm (direct work with students) will be from 15 to 19, instead of the previous 16 to 19 hours.

In July 2025, the Government adopted the Law on the Uniform Disability Expertise. This Law is of importance for the education process and will be the method of determining the level of support needed. This means that the Law on the Education of Children with Special Educational Needs is to be amended. Amendments are underway in terms of: harmonizing terminology, redefining the guidance process (guidance commissions at the local level are abolished), and the expert opinion will be carried out by the Bureau that is being formed in the field of social and child protection. The Bureau for Disability Expertise will send a decision to the Bureau for Educational Services and the Center for Vocational Education, which will then send recommendations to the educational institutions for the provision of programs, support, etc. Amendments to the Law on the Education of Children with Special Educational Needs will be implemented in the next few months, and the system itself should be adjusted within a year. The Law on Amendments is currently in Parliamentary procedure.

Amendments to the Rulebook on norms and standards for the acquisition of funds from public revenues for institutions implementing publicly valid educational programs were adopted. Increasing the number of psychologists, pedagogues in educational institutions, as well as defectologists and speech therapists in resource centers, is the most significant measure provided for in this Rulebook, in order to provide psychosocial support and prevent violence and preserve mental health. In addition to the number of psychologists and pedagogues, schools will also be strengthened with social workers, in accordance with the estimated needs of the institution. Norms are a necessary change that creates prerequisites for fostering a stimulating and pleasant environment for all students, as well as conditions for quality prevention of all forms of violence, which is one of the priorities of the work of this department.

At the session held on 19 September 2024, the Government of Montenegro adopted the Program for the Development of General Secondary Education in Montenegro (2024-2026). The Action plan of the general secondary education development program in Montenegro 2024-2026 with estimated costs consist of four strategic goals: Strategic goal 1 - Improving regulations related to general secondary education; Strategic goal 2 - Improving the quality of teaching and learning; Strategic goal 3 - Improving the professional development of teachers; Strategic goal 4 - Improving curricula and educational offer. 

Ministry in cooperation with UNICEF is implementing the program "Development - inclusive and integrated support", which has the general goal of strengthening the general inclusive environment that respects inclusive principles, the rights of the child, relies on its preserved potential, examines its current needs, developmental status and develops and applies quality and effective response measures.

The target groups are children with disabilities as well as children, members of the Roma and Egyptian communities. The direct target group are educators in schools and kindergartens, practitioners and employees in institutions at the local community level, as well as parents and guardians, while the indirect target group is the general public, as well as the media and the academic community.

Digital Competences Reform

At the session held on 13 June 2025, the National Council for Education adopted the Digital Competence Framework for Teachers, a document that systematizes the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for quality and responsible application of digital technologies in education. The framework is based on the European DigCompEdu model and the digital self-evaluation tool SELFIE for Teachers, and special emphasis is placed on recognizing the role of artificial intelligence in education, with guidelines for its ethical and purposeful application. The document is the basis for the development of professional training programs, the improvement of pedagogical practice and the strengthening of the digital capacities of the teaching staff

On June 19, 2025, the Government of Montenegro adopted the Report on the Implementation of the Strategy for the Digitization of the Education System 2022-2027. for the year 2024, which confirmed the continuity in monitoring and improving the process of digital transformation of education.

As part of the development of digital services, a new electronic service for exemption from student loan repayment was created and implemented, which further improved access to rights and services in the higher education system.

CLIL Methodology (Content and Language Integrated Learning)

By applying the CLIL Methodology (Content and Language Integrated Learning), students are exposed to the English language during regular classes in the so-called non-language teaching subjects (Mathematics, Nature and Society, Music Culture, Art Culture and Physical Education). The main goals of this approach are the development of motivation and a positive attitude towards learning English as a foreign language, the strengthening of self-confidence when expressing oneself in a foreign language and greater exposure to the English language during classes. Teaching according to the CLIL approach in the academic year 2024/2025. was implemented in 10 first grade classes and for the 2025/2026 school year, the number of classes should be three times larger. In order to improve the quality of teaching and innovative approach, the Ministry has additionally equipped CLIL classrooms and the Double L Center for Foreign Languages ​​and Translation held trainings for 60 classroom teachers.

As a result of the successful cooperation of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation with the Center for Foreign Languages ​​and Translation Double L, in 2025 a CLIL Manual was created for the first time in Montenegro in Montenegrin, English and Albanian languages. The Manual provides additional support for teachers who implement educational work in CLIL classes. On the basis of the Manual, Guidelines and a more detailed application of the methodology will be developed in the following period through various teaching subjects.

2024

On September 5th The Parliament adopted the Law on Amendments to the General Law on Education ("Official Gazette of Montenegro, No. 84/2024), which includes changes to the organization of educational work and the appointment of school directors in order to provide conditions for more efficient functioning of school and administrative boards, as well as achieving better management of the work of educational institutions. Therefore, educational work (school year) now includes two classification periods (semesters) instead of four. Furthermore, the director of a public institution is elected and dismissed by the minister, in accordance with this law. The institution submits to the Ministry the application of candidates for the selection of director with documentation within seven days from the end of the competition. The Ministry reviews the applications and documents of the candidates and compiles a list of candidates who meet the conditions of the competition. The candidate from the list is subject to a test of competence, knowledge and abilities. 

A Working Group was formed for the development of the Education Reform Strategy (2025 – 2035). At the end of April, the first meeting of the working group was organized in order to agree on the steps of developing, monitoring, implementing the Strategy, determining action plans for the implementation of the Strategy, monitoring their implementation, evaluating the results achieved based on the monitoring of established performance indicators, proposing changes and submitting information for the purpose of drafting annual reports on the implementation of the Strategy.

The Programme for the Development of General Secondary Education in Montenegro 2024 - 2026 was adopted. Operational goals defined by the Programme are: Improvement of regulations related to general secondary education; Improving the quality of teaching and learning; Improving the professional development of teachers and Improving educational programmes and educational offers

With the Institute for textbooks and teaching aids, a Manual "Early intervention" for teachers and parents was prepared and approved by the National Council and is in the printing phase. A Manual for teachers "Working with students with intellectual disabilities" was created as well, and the material was selected at the competition and prepared for the National Council. 

A reform project "Quality education for every child in Montenegro" in cooperation with UNICEF and the Delegation of EU has began. The goal of this reform initiative is the development of a comprehensive Strategy for Education Reform (2025-2035), which will define the vision of education, the main goals and the activities that need to be implemented in order to achieve them. The strategy will cover all levels of education and define the financial framework for its sustainable and long-term realization. The project also includes a series of interventions aimed at improving the quality and fairness of education, as well as ensuring a broad consultative process and mobilization of all actors in the preparation of the new Strategy. The goals planned by the project are fully based on the findings and strategic recommendations of the comprehensive Analysis of the education sector, which was carried out in cooperation with UNICEF.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation has implemented a series of activities related to the prevention of violence in educational institutions. Consultations were held at which the Instruction for Schools on the Division of Responsibilities and Actions for Prevention and in Cases of Violence was presented, and the importance of timely and accurate data entry into the Education Information System (MEIS) on cases of peer violence, as well as the actions of institutions, were highlighted. 

The Ministry adopted and entered into force the Rulebook on Amendments to the Rulebook on Norms and Standards for the Acquisition of Funds from Public Revenues for Institutions Implementing Publicly Valid Educational Programs, on which the National Council for Education gave a positive opinion. It is estimated that the amended norms will affect the increase in the number of professional associates in educational institutions by 60 persons, that is, by about 28%. For the first time, the possibility of hiring three professional associates in institutions with over 1,400 children/pupils was determined.
Also, with the amendments to the Rulebook, for the first time, the conditions that the institution must fulfill in order to be able to hire an assistant in the prevention of violence and vandalism in the school are prescribed, and that is, an institution with more than 700 pupils can be approved for one person in the position of an assistant in preventing violence and vandalism, in accordance with the needs of the institution.

The Examination center implemented a Public Call for inclusion in the Training Program for a licensed examiner in the process of obtaining the professional qualification of Assistant in the prevention of violence and vandalism at school. JU Higher Vocational School Police Academy implements the Education Program for obtaining the professional qualification of Assistant in preventing violence and vandalism in schools.

During 2023, constant work was done on enriching the content of "Digionica", an online platform for self-learning. Emphasis is placed on the creation and systematization of digital content that will be placed on the platform, as well as on the education of teaching staff on the use of this platform. In 2023, about 1,000 teachers were educated, and the platform for online self-learning contains 1,116 courses, 12,231 lessons and 562 quizzes, in 58 categories. The total number of platform users (teachers, children and parents) is 32,294. The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation presented the "Digital School" concept and the "Digionica" platform at the International Book and Education Fair in Podgorica and won an award for the improvement of electronic publishing.

In the context of career guidance and counseling, the 2024-2026 Career Guidance and Counseling Development Program is being drafted, planned for adoption in the 2nd quarter of 2024. 

In accordance with the National Gender Equality Strategy, an analysis of the subject programs and textbooks is underway, and the media presentation of the results will follow. This activity is implemented in cooperation with OECD and UNICEF.

2023

With regards to the Strategy of digitalization of the education system 2022-2027, with the Action Plan for 2022 and 2023, the implementation is ongoing. The focus is on the improvement of teachers and pupils' digital competences, as well as schools equipment and development of a safe environment through the self-care skills of pupils. Workshops have been developed and organized in 5 schools.

A support program for pupils from Ukraine is being implemented, focusing on socio-emotional competences and support through the engagement of Ukrainian pedagogical workers as supportive associates, from the engagement of a special teacher. The Ministry of Education approved the increase in the number of classes in schools where a larger number of foreign students were enrolled. Support for learning the Montenegrin language as a non-native language according to the publicly valid subject program was implemented with two additional lessons per week financed from the Budget of the Ministry of Education was implemented. In cooperation with UNICEF, textbooks are provided for the Montenegrin language as a non-native subject. Bureau for Educational Services developed Guidelines for the inclusion of students from other speaking areas in educational institutions in Montenegro, as well as Guidelines for the evaluation and assessment of students from other speaking areas in educational institutions in Montenegro.

In December 2022, the Bureau for Educational Services and the Examination Center launched the PISA 2025 - Science in Focus program, which was supported by the Ministry of Education. The expert team of the Bureau for Educational Services compared the national curriculum in natural sciences and the PISA 2025 Science Framework. The general conclusion is that there are no significant differences in terms of content, but that there is a difference in the approach to science and the factors that affect it have been identified.

Based on that, a program was created with a focus on two aspects of teaching natural sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Geography and Physics):
1. developing scientific competences through experiments 
2. changing attitudes towards science by encouraging a growth mindset.

In the first phase of the program, which lasted from March to June 2023, 95% of all elementary schools (students in grades 6-9) and secondary schools (grades 1-3) were included. Published PISA items which check the understanding and application of knowledge from the natural group of subjects were translated into the Montenegrin and Albanian languages and made available to schools. Most of the activities are devoted to knowing the stages of scientific research and interpreting data based on experiments performed at home (due to unequal conditions for conducting experiments in the classroom) with the use of teaching materials from the Digital Classroom. Schools organized Science Days and posted the reports on their website. It is planned to train teachers to write tasks in which scientific knowledge is applied to solve problems from everyday life, as well as to involve schools in environmental actions.