The education system in Serbia is regulated by the set of education laws, primarily the Law on the Education System Foundations, the Law on Primary Education, the Law on Secondary Education, the Law on Higher Education, and the Law on Adult Education.  

The Ministry of Education has the overall responsibility for developing and implementing education policies in Serbia. Schools and preschools have a significant level of autonomy in organising and delivering educational programmes and other educational activities. Higher education institutions enjoy a high level of autonomy. 

Institutions at all levels of education can be public (state-funded) and private (established by private entities). Public educational institutions are mainly funded by the state budget. Public educational institutions may be founded by the Republic of Serbia, an autonomous province of Vojvodina or a local self-government unit, in accordance with the conditions defined by law. Local self-government units have responsibilities related to the establishment and operation of educational institutions, especially early childhood education and care (ECEC) institutions and primary schools. They are responsible for infrastructure, maintenance of school facilities, and specific organisational tasks defined by law. 

The Ministry of Education and competent authorities of the Province of Vojvodina monitor the establishment of educational institutions. The procedure is the same for preschools, basic schools and secondary schools, regardless of the type of their founder. All higher education institutions must be accredited by the Commission for Accreditation and Quality Assurance before obtaining a license to operate issued by the Ministry.  

The education system in Serbia consists of early childhood education and care, basic education, secondary education and higher education.  

Compulsory education consists of: 

• the preschool preparatory programme (pripremni predškolski program), which is attended in year before enrollment in basic school, 

• eight years of basic education.  

Basic education is compulsory and free of charge in public schools. Secondary education is not compulsory but is free of charge in public institutions. Secondary education is provided through general secondary education, vocational education and training programmes and art education.  

As of the school year 2010/2011, there is system-wide implementation of inclusive education. The Law on the Foundations of the Education System puts emphasis on the prohibition of discrimination and segregation, individual education plans, new assessment and evaluation policy, introduction of teaching assistants, inclusion of children with special educational needs into regular schools by providing support to schools, and new financial policy.  

Regarding the teaching profession, relevant legislative documents define precise qualification levels and specific conditions for education staff, including all school and ECEC teachers. Colleges of applied studies (preschool teacher education colleges – visoke škole strukovnih studija za vaspitače) or universities (teacher education faculties – učiteljski fakulteti) provide initial education of preschool teachers. Teachers who teach at primary education level (class teaching, grades 1 to 4) earn their degree at teacher education faculties. Subject teachers who teach at lower secondary education level (grades 5 to 8 and entire secondary education) complete their studies at other faculties for specific subjects (i.e. mathematics, biology, chemistry etc.)  

For preschool teachers, there is no requirement for specialisation or Master programmes. Teachers in single-structure primary and lower secondary education, as well as secondary education must hold a Master’s degree, whereas those involved in tertiary education teaching processes are required to hold a PhD. 

All teachers working in early childhood and school education must pass a licensing exam after one-year induction period during their first employment to continue their teaching career. For tertiary education teaching staff, there is no such requirement.  

Professional development of teachers is obligatory and specified by law. Teachers have to dedicate a certain part of their working time to professional development training in order to keep their position and license. Continuous professional development is regulated through bylaws adopted by the Ministry of Education and implemented through accredited programmes. 

Professional development of academic staff is not obligatory or regulated by law, but it is necessary for career progression and is mostly based on scientific work. 

Children enter compulsory education at the age of 5½, when they start the pre-school preparatory programme, followed by 8 years of basic education. The leaving age in full-time compulsory education is 14½.  

Early childhood education and care is intended for children from 6 months until the basic school starting age. It comprises three levels determined by the age of children:  

• nursery – children from 6 months to 3 years of age; 

• kindergarten – children from 3 to 5½ years of age; 

• preschool preparatory programme – children from 5½ to 6½ years of age. 

The nine-month long preschool preparatory programme is the first part of compulsory education.  

Basic education (primary and lower secondary education within a single structure) is compulsory, takes eight years and is carried out in two educational cycles. 

Cycle I: 1st to 4th grade (children from 6½ to 10½ years old); 

Cycle II: 5th to 8th grade (children from 10½ to 14½ years old). 

Most subjects in Cycle I are taught by class teachers. Each subject in Cycle II is taught by a different subject teacher. 

Public basic education is free and the only admission criterion is the age. All children enroll in primary school between 6 ½ and 7 ½ years old with the certificate of preschool programme attendance.  

Secondary education consists of the following: 

• four years of general education (gimnazija) 

• two to four years of vocational education (stručna škola) 

• four years of art education in art schools (umetnička škola).  

There are two types of grammar schools: general grammar schools and specialised grammar schools, intended for education of talented students in certain areas. Pupils are usually 15 years old when they enter secondary education and 18½ when they leave four-year programmes. They are admitted to schools based on primary school achievements and the final exam results.   

Students who graduate from grammar schools can enroll in almost any faculty. Vocational school students can proceed to tertiary education at faculties and colleges fitting their specialisation. Students enrolled in three-year vocational education and training (VET) programmes can take additional exams to qualify for university entrance exams. 

The Higher Education System has two types of studies: 

• academic studies organised at universities;  

• applied studies organised either at colleges of applied studies or at universities. 

The three-cycle system of academic studies in Serbia includes: 

• Bachelor and undergraduate studies (lasting 3–4 years, carrying 180 to 240 ECTS); 

• Master and specialised studies (lasting 1–2 years with 60 to 120 ECTS); 

• PhD studies with a minimum of three years of study or 180 ECTS. 

Integrated studies are introduced in the field of medical science and pharmacy. These study programmes last 6 or 5 years and carry 360 or 300 ECTS.   

Vocational studies comprise two levels: 

• Colleges of Applied Studies, where programmes last three years and carry 180 ECTS; 

• Specialised Colleges of Applied Studies, where programmes carry 60 ECTS and last one year. 

Adult education can be formal or non-formal. 

Regular primary or secondary schools or schools specialisingin adult education provide formal adult education, while non-formal adult education is not in the school system. It is implemented through different forms of professional development training. 

Primary adult education takes from three to five years. It is organised by grades, with two grades in one school year. When they turn 15, students can be admitted to adult education. There are 14 schools for adult education in Serbia. Regular primary schools can also implement programmes for primary adult education. 

Schools for secondary adult education can offer a special curriculum for adult education, vocational training programmes and different training options.  

To implement special programmes in the areas of adult education other associations or individuals have to meet prescribed standards for the implementation of special programmes and receive approval from the Ministry.