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Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
Administration and governance at central and/or regional level

Bosnia and Herzegovina

2.Organisation and governance

2.6Administration and governance at central and/or regional level

Last update: 27 November 2023



At the state level, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH coordinates the activities in the field of education. The following agencies have also been established at the state level: the Agency for the Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance (http://hea.gov.ba/), Centre for Information and Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education (http://cip.gov. ba/) and Agency for Preschool, Primary and Secondary Education (http://www.aposo.gov.ba/). Coordination bodies of the education sector have been also formed: the Conference of Ministers of Education in BiH and the Council for General Education. The Rectors' Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been established and it defines and represents the common interests of universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, cooperates with institutions in the field of education in Bosnia and Herzegovina and acts as an advisory body for the implementation of the reform of higher education. In the Republic of Srpska, RS Ministry of Education and Culture has responsibility for education policy, legislation, administration and financing of education in the entity, the entity representation in the process of coordinating education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the implementation of the documents adopted at the national and international level and others. Ministry of Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society performs administrative and other professional tasks in the field of higher education; students’ standards; preparing programs of educational cooperation with the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, other countries and international organizations and international agreements in the field of higher education in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Srpska and the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina established the Federal Ministry of Education and Science, which carries out administrative, professional and other activities, including cooperation and coordination activities with the cantons, which, among other things, refer to: preschool, primary and secondary education; educational standards and norms; textbooks; vocational education and training of teachers; standards and norms for higher education; research work on improvement of educational work; pupils and students’ standard etc. Department of Education in the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina is responsible for the organisation and functioning of the education system in the Brčko District.

There are 11 ministries of education in the Federation of BiH, two in Sarajevo Canton and by one in other cantons. The cantonal ministries of education have responsibility for education in cantons (many of which are responsible for education, science, culture and sport). Their size and capacity to perform their functions differ from canton to canton. Regulations in the field of education differently regulate the jurisdiction of the local level in the educational sector. This refers to the organisation of the educational process, maintenance of school facilities, participation in creating part of the curriculum important for the local community, including the funding of education.