Definition of the Target Group(s)

The target group includes children of Roma and Egyptian population, as well as children with special educational needs in early development.

Specific Support Measures

In the field of early development, additional early intervention programmes are offered by resource centres which involve individual work and actions, as well as periods of stay ranging from a few days to fifteen days or a month.

Early Development Centres have been established as another service provided by resource centres, consisting of a special educator and rehabilitator and expert associates. These centres aim to encourage the development of children with special educational needs, teacher training for adapting the work environment and materials, trainings for parents and the interested members of public community. All kindergartens have been trained by resource centres for early recognition and adaptation to the needs of children (conditions, method of work). The resource centers provided training for the development of specialized and individualized teaching aids, conducted coaching, as well as a fair of assistive technology and customized teaching materials and resources in 7 schools with integrated departments - support centers at the local level.

In accordance with the Education Reform Strategy 2025–2035, as well as the Draft Strategy for the Social Inclusion of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro 2026–2030, measures and activities aimed at improving the position of Roma and Egyptians are foreseen, as well as the implementation of regular activities that the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation continuously carries out in this area:
- Promotion of enrollment of Roma and Egyptian children in preschool education, primary and secondary education;
- Exemption from paying the costs of preschool education for children of the Roma and Egyptian population;
- Increasing the number of assistants in social inclusion of Roma and Egyptians in the field of education with a special focus on preschool and primary education;
- Providing free transportation for Roma and Egyptian children;
- Increasing the rate of completion of primary education and continuation of education in secondary school;
- Granting scholarships to high school students and students of the Roma and Egyptian population;
- Celebrating International Roma Day in schools;

The Ministry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights in March, each year, promotes the enrollment in preschool education, primary education and secondary education (in municipalities Berane, Bar, Nikšić and Podgorica). These four municipalities are visited by a team made up of representatives of the mentioned institutions and non-governmental organizations who speak with parents and children old enough to enroll in preschool education, in the first grade of primary school, with the aim of emphasizing the obligation and importance of primary education. They also speak with ninth grade elementary school students to encourage them to enroll in secondary schools. The idea of the campaign is to raise parents' awareness of the importance of supporting their children in education. Therefore, statistical data for the 2025/2026 school year records 362 children of Roma and Egyptian population enrolled in preschool education, 1,748 primary school pupils and 163 high school pupils enrolled in secondary schools. 

The engagement of associates (mediators) in the social inclusion of RE population in education continued, in accordance with the norms. This practice has proven to be extremely useful for the inclusion of children of Roma and Egyptian population in the education system, as well as for reducing drop-outs. Based on the newly adopted 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 one mediator in social inclusion provides assistance to 35 children of the RE population, instead of 70 as provided by the previous Rulebook. Mediators can be engaged in preschool institutions as well. Currently, 35 associates (mediators) are engaged in primary schools. 

The Ministry continuously works on staff training and organizes trainings for mediators in the social inclusion of Roma and Egyptians. The Ministry specifically encourages members of the Roma and Egyptian population to apply for this training. For members of the Roma and Egyptian population, the training is free of charge. 

Free transportation is provided to pupils of Roma and Egyptian population in following  municipalities: Podgorica, Nikšić, Berane, Cetinje, Kotor and Ulcinj.

Upon a public Call, each year the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation awards scholarships to secondary school pupils of Roma and Egyptian population. For the 2025/2026 school year, 116 pupils were awarded with scholarships. The amount of the scholarship is 60 EUR.

Dormitories for pupils determine up to 7% of the capacity for accommodation of students with disabilities and beneficiaries of material security.

An "Intensive literacy" programme is being implemented. Guidelines for literacy of pupils of the Roma and Egyptian community, Dictionary-picture book of the Roma-Montenegrin language, and a Material for intensive literacy have been prepared. In 6 schools, intensive literacy is conducted, around 350 hours of individualized teaching was held. A free elementary literacy program is provided for the Roma and Egyptian population, as well as an adapted basic education program for adults. During the 2024/2025 school year, 82 participants successfully completed the adapted primary school program, out of which 34 were male and 48 were female. The elementary functional literacy program was attended by 22 participants, out of which 10 were male and 12 female.