2023
The National Plan for the Development of Education and Training until 2027 and The Whole-Day School Model (WDS)
The National Plan for the Development of Education and Training until 2027 which was adopted in March 2023, defines in more detail the implementation of the strategic goal and priority areas of public policies for the education sector from the National Development Strategy 2030.
Measures at the level of the specific objective No. 2.The objective of Improving the educational outcomes of students in the primary and general secondary educationsystem is aimed at infrastructural and organisational adaptation of the system and preparation of schools for the introduction of the whole-day school, enrichment and extension of the total duration of the school day, improvement of the curriculum and teaching practices, improvement of the working conditions of teachers and expert associates that encourage better learning outcomes and greater efficiency and improvement of professional development.
The Whole-Day School Model (WDS) aims to extend the period of learning and teaching and thus the acquisition of key competences for lifelong learning. As part of the WDS, the number of teaching hours in key literacies is increased, while support, assisted, and enriched learning is systematised. In the first step, the whole-day primary school in Croatia is being introduced into the education system in the form of an Experimental Programme, the implementation of which will begin in the 2023/2024 school year.
Through experimental implementation, new subjects are introduced into the curriculum: Science, Society and Community, Practical Skills, Information and Digital Competences and World and I. Experimental curricula and associated educational outcomes will be used for the new subjects. Experimental curricula, as well as guidelines for teachers for the implementation of new subjects in primary school, were published in May and July 2023.
Based on the Public call for primary schools to submit applications for participation in the Experimental Programme, the Ministry of Science and Education selected 62 primary schools which will participate in the Experimental Programme "Primary School as a Whole-Day School – balanced, fair, efficient and sustainable education system".
2022
Amendments to the Primary and Secondary School Education Act
In December 2022, the Croatian Parliament passed amendments to the Primary and Secondary School Education Act (Official Gazette, 151/2022).
Until then, in accordance with the applicable Primary and Secondary School Education Act, OG, 133/20), elementary schools were obliged to organise nutrition of students while they are at school in accordance with the prescribed norms. However, the law did not prescribe the method, nor the possibility of co-financing or financing student meals from the state budget. The exception was financing of students with developmental difficulties for whom the costs of transportation, food and special teaching materials are covered by the state budget.
In order to protect parents' standards and mitigate negative consequences of the global economic crisis and inflation, by amending Article 143 the Government of the Republic of Croatia now may make a decision on the financing or co-financing of meals for elementary school students for each school year. Such a decision has been made starting with 2023.
As before, nutrition for students will be organised by the owners and founders of elementary schools. Based on the mentioned amendment starting with the 2nd school semester in 2023, EUR 1,33 per student will be allocated from the state budget so that each student can be provided at least one free meal.
(Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o elementima i kriterijima za izbor kandidata za upis u I. razred srednje škole)
(Pravilnik o izmjenama Pravilnika o uvjetima i postupku izbora učitelja za rad u hrvatskoj nastavi u inozemstvu)
(Pravilnik o načinu ostvarivanja prava na besplatne udžbenike za hrvatske branitelje iz Domovinskog rata i članove njihovih obitelji)
(Pravilnik o načinu ostvarivanja prava na besplatne udžbenike za civilne stradalnike iz Domovinskog rata)
Ordinance on the implementation of the School Honey Day Programme from Croatian apiaries, 2022
(Pravilnik o provedbi Programa školski medni dan s hrvatskih pčelinjaka)
(Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o provedbi Nacionalne strategije za provedbu školske sheme voća i povrća te mlijeka i mliječnih proizvoda od školske godine 2017./2018. do 2022./2023.)
(Pravilnik o kriterijima slabijeg imovnog stanja polaznika srednje škole radi plaćanja troškova smještaja u učeničkom domu)
2021
Ordinance on Amendments to the Ordinance on methods, procedures and elements of student evaluation in primary and secondary schools
On September 15, the Ordinance on amendments to the Ordinance on methods, procedures and elements of student evaluation in primary and secondary schools came into force. According to the Ordinance on Amendments, the teacher is obliged to announce a written test at least 14 days before the test.
Amendments to the Education Inspection Act
In May 2021, the Croatian Parliament passed amendments to the Education Inspection Act abolishing anonymous reports, in order to prevent the misuse of reports to the Education Inspectorate.
Ordinance on amendments to the Ordinance on conducting excursions, excursions and other educational activities outside the school
In May 2021, Amendments to the Ordinance on conducting excursions, excursions and other educational activities outside the school came into force. Amendments will allow the procedure to be conducted in a shorter time than prescribed and extracurricular activities can be realized after the cessation of circumstances on the basis of which students could not participate in the planned extracurricular classes.
Also, if necessary, amendments to the Ordinance allow remote meetings for parents of students for whom extracurricular activities are planned.
In the event of natural disasters, disease epidemics or other circumstances, all bids from potential service providers will be submitted electronically and not by mail as required by the existing Ordinance.
Ordinance on amendments to the Ordinance on the promotion of teachers, professional associates and principals in primary and secondary schools and student dormitories
On 8 April 2021, the Ordinance on amendments to the Ordinance on the promotion of teachers, professional associates and principals in primary and secondary schools and student dormitories (Official Gazette, No. 32/2021) entered into force.
In accordance with Article 7 of the Ordinance, the procedure for promotion is initiated at the request of the educational worker who is obliged to inform the school institution with which he has an employment relationship in writing or electronically.
The request for promotion is submitted by the educational worker to the agency responsible for education and is available in electronic form on the agency's website.
Public consultation on the Draft Proposal of Amendments to the Education Inspection Act
In December 2020 the Ministry of Science and Education has opened an e-Consultation with the interested public on the Draft Proposal of Amendments to the Education Inspection Act. Amendments abolish anonymous reports, in order to prevent the misuse of reports to the education inspectorate. The amendments stipulate that each report must also contain the name and surname of the applicant. The changes were made in order for all citizens to exercise their legal rights, but also in order to protect educators, i.e. school institutions that are subject to the supervision of the educational inspection, from arbitrary or unfounded reports.
Public consultation on the Draft Decision on Adoption of the Curriculum for the Subject Geology for the 4th Grade of the Natural Science Gymnasium in Croatia
In February 2021 the Ministry of Science and Education has opened a public consultation on the Draft Decision on the adoption of the curriculum for the subject of Geology for the 4th grade of the high school of science in the Republic of Croatia. The public consultation was open from 23 February to 25 March 2021 for the purpose of informing the interested public, receiving feedback, and actively involving the interested public in connection with the proposal of the decision.
Adopted Education Support Program for Members of the Roma National Minority for the period 2021-2023
On March 4, 2021, the Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted the Decision on the Adoption of Education Support Program for Members of the Roma National Minority for the period 2021-2023 (Official Gazette, number: 23/2021).
The program aims to support the inclusion of children and students belonging to the Roma national minority in the education system at all levels and to provide conditions for the improvement of their educational achievements and more successful socialization.
The Ministry of Science and Education will implement this three-year Program is in partnership with local and regional self-government units, kindergartens, schools, and other stakeholders in the education system. Funds for the implementation of the planned activities are provided in the State Budget of the Republic of Croatia.