The education system in Serbia includes early childhood education and care, basic and secondary education, higher education, and adult education. 

The specifics of activities at all levels of education are regulated by specific laws. In all institutions founded by the Republic of Serbia, an autonomous province, or a local government unit, the following are provided free of charge: early childhood education and care for children in the year before starting school (preparatory preschool programme – PPP), basic education for children and adults, and secondary education for full-time and part-time students. 

Early childhood education and care is intended for children aged six months to 6.5 years, when they start basic education. Basic education is compulsory and consists of eight grades. After basic education, students attend secondary education either at general secondary schools (four years) or vocational secondary schools (three or four years).  

Every student who completes a four-year secondary school has open access to higher education in the Republic of Serbia. Higher education is divided into three levels:  

• The first level (Bachelor’s studies); 

• The second level (Master’s studies, specialised studies); 

• The third level (PhD studies). 

The higher education system in Serbia offers two types of studies: academic studies at universities and applied studies organised either at academies and colleges of applied studies or at universities. 

Adult education is part of the Serbian education system, aimed at enabling adults to continuously acquire competences and qualifications that are crucial for their employment, professional development and socially responsible behaviour. According to the Law on Adult Education, adult education includes: general education (directed towards acquiring key competences), vocational education and specialisation (directed towards acquiring or improving vocational competences required for participation in the labour market), professional development, recognition of prior learning and career guidance and counselling (supporting career development skills important for successful employment and professional advancement). 

Adults who receive basic education under the adult education programme must be over 15 years old, while those receiving secondary adult education must be over 17 years of age. 

The Ministry of Education has overall responsibility for developing and implementing education policy in Serbia. According to the Law on Ministries, the Ministry of Education performs state administrative activities relating to:  

1. Research, planning and development of preschool, basic, secondary and higher education, as well as the student standard;  

2. Supplementary education for children of Serbian nationals abroad;  

3. Administrative supervision in pre-school, basic, secondary and higher education and the student standard;  

4. Participation in the construction, equipping and maintenance of facilities for preschool, basic, secondary and higher education and the student standard of national interest;  

5. Expert-pedagogical supervision in pre-school, basic and secondary education and the student standard;  

6. Organisation, evaluation of work and supervision of educational staff training;  

7. Validation and equivalence of official documents obtained abroad;  

8. Improvement of social care for gifted students and students with special needs; 

9. Creating the conditions for access to and implementation of projects within the competence of the Ministry funded through EU IPA, donations and other forms of development assistance; 

10. Other responsibilities as specified by law. 

District school authorities are territorial units of the Ministry of Education in charge of implementing and improving education at the local level. They are established by the Government of the Republic of Serbia. 

District school authorities ensure the conditions for the operation of institutions, monitor and enhance the quality of education and implement Ministry policies within their designated territories. Their roles also include: 

• Monitoring and support: They oversee the work of institutions, provide professional support, and coordinate activities between schools and the Ministry. 

• Inspection: They conduct inspections upon the Minister’s directive, verifying compliance of institutional operations with the law. 

• Licensing: They participate in the process of issuing licenses to teachers and non-teaching professionals (e.g. psychologists, pedagogists etc.). 

• Examination organisation: They supervise the implementation of final exams and other assessment processes at the national level.  

• Management assistance: They assist in the establishment and operation of institutions, including verification and record-keeping. 

District school authorities are obliged to collaborate with schools and ECEC institutions, the Institute for the Improvement of Education, local government units and other relevant institutions to achieve national educational objectives effectively.  

In order to monitor, enable the development and improve the quality of education, the Government of the Republic of Serbia has established the following councils:  

1. National Education Council – responsible for preschool, primary, general secondary and artistic education; 

2. Council for Vocational and Adult Education – responsible for secondary vocational education, specialist and master education, adult education, education for work, professional training, and apprenticeships. 

The councils are required to collaborate and align their positions when addressing issues that fall under the jurisdiction of both councils.  

At the higher education level, the National Council for Higher Education is responsible for ensuring the development and promotion of quality in higher education. 

These nationally important bodies design, monitor and coordinate the development of education and training, as well as monitor and coordinate the interests and needs of all social partners. 

Sector Skills Councils are expert bodies whose main responsibility is to propose qualification standards for specific work sectors, in accordance with the national qualifications framework. 

In order to monitor, ensure, and improve the quality and development of the education system, the Republic of Serbia has established the Institute for the Evaluation of Quality in Education and the Institute for the Improvement of Education. Their activities include development, advisory, research and other expert tasks in preschool, basic and secondary education.  

The Institute for the Evaluation of Quality in Education is a government body which evaluates education and provides recommendations for ensuring its quality. Key activities of the Institute include defining standards in education, evaluating education and providing professional development for participants in the education system. 

The Institute for the Improvement of Education monitors, ensures and improves the quality and development of the education system. They are responsible for development, advisory, research and other expert activities in preschool, basic and secondary education. 

At the higher education level, one of the most relevant bodies is the National Entity for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education (NEAQA). This is an independent national body responsible for institutional, financial, administrative and professional matters under the Law on Higher Education.  

It aims to maintain and improve the quality of higher education and ensure compliance with internationally recognised education standards. The NEAQA is also responsible for accreditation and quality assurance of higher education institutions and their units, evaluation of study programmes and quality assurance in higher education in Serbia. 

Each institution in the education system has governing, management, professional, and advisory bodies. The governing body in ECEC institutions is the governing board, while in schools, this role is fulfilled by the school board. 

These governing bodies are appointed at the local level and consist of staff, parent and local government representatives.  

Their responsibilities include:  

• Adopting statutes, general acts, educational programmes (preschool, school and pedagogical work programmes) and preparing documents including financial and professional development plans;  

• Reviewing and adopting reports on their implementation, business operations, evaluation and self-evaluation, field trips and retreats;  

• Announcing competitions for headmaster elections;  

• Monitoring adherence to general education principles, attainment of prescribed education goals and achievement standards;  

• Reviewing and taking measures for improving working conditions and the implementation of education;  

• Deciding on appeals or complaints against headmaster decisions. 

The headmaster of the school/preschool is responsible for ensuring legality and successful operation of the institution. They are appointed by the Minister following a competition process, based on opinions given by the pedagogical and educational boards, board of teachers or by both teacher and pedagogical boards, in which all employees vote for candidates by secret ballot. The headmaster is accountable to the governing body and the Minister. 

Higher education institutions are governed by councils of higher education institutions and managing bodies elected by these councils. The executive officers are the Rector (universities), Dean (faculties) and Headmaster (colleges and colleges of applied studies). 

The election of rectors follows elaborate democratic procedures based on the statute of the university. Candidates for rectors, deans and college headmasters are proposed by the Senate, a professional body, and elected by the council of the higher education institution.