Funding
In accordance with Article 135 of the General Law on Education and Upbringing, education and upbringing is carried out in preschool institutions, schools, education centers, resource centers, adult education organizers and pupils' dorms, in accordance with this law, and in the manner and under the conditions prescribed by a special law through public or private institutions.
In accordance with Article 135 of the General Law on Education and Upbringing, education and upbringing is financed from:
• public revenues (budget of Montenegro and municipalities)
• funds of the founder
• tuition fees in private institutions
• fees paid by parents
• income from property (lease)
• funds from the sale of services and products
• donations, sponsorships and legacies
• other sources.
The budget of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, which is part of the Budget of Montenegro and which the Parliament of Montenegro adopts on an annual basis, determines the amount of funds for the education sector. Starting from the fiscal year 2005, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation has implemented a program budget that consists of 8 programs in 2024.
In accordance with Article 7 of the General Law on Education, the activity of public institutions is non-profit. From the funds of the Budget of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, in accordance with Article 136 of the General Law on Education, public institutions, from the network of institutions, are provided with funds from the budget of Montenegro for:
1. gross salaries and other personal income of employees
2. ongoing investment maintenance
3. investments in institutions
4. material costs and energy expenditures
5. permanent training of teachers
6. supplementary primary education of citizens of Montenegro on temporary work abroad
7. elementary education of adults
8. external examination of pupils knowledge prescribed by law (knowledge examination students at the end of the third cycle, matriculation and other exams)
9. scholarships for talented students
10. scholarships for deficient qualifications
11. student competition
12. experimental teaching
13. accommodation and food for pupils in a dormitory, that is, in an institution
14. subsidizing textbooks with a small circulation and textbooks for education national and ethnic groups
15. feeding costs for children in preschool whose parents are beneficiaries of material security of the family in accordance with special regulations
16. the costs of accommodation and food, i.e. the stay of a child of a single parent in preschool institution in the amount of 50% of the cost of accommodation and meals in in accordance with a special regulation
17. the costs of the teacher's medical, i.e. sanitary-hygienic examination, that is, employees in accordance with this law and a special regulation
18. training and development of directors and for the work of expert councils
19. development, advisory and research work in education and upbringing
20. development of the information system
21. subsidizing the housing needs of employees in the institution
22. other obligations established by law
23. student transportation participation.
Exceptionally, for financing the needs of current investment maintenance, investments in institutions and material costs and energy expenditures in public institutions, from the network of institutions, founded by the municipality, funds are provided in the municipal budget. In addition to these allocations, the Government allocates special funds for the education system through the Capital Budget, within which a significant amount of funds is allocated for the improvement of school infrastructure. Pre-school institutions, primary schools, education centers, music schools, high schools, mixed and vocational schools, as well as institutions for the education of children with special educational needs - resource center, adult education, pupils dorms, acquire funds from the Budget of Montenegro for one school year based on funds determined by the Budget of Montenegro, the number of pupils, i.e. children, the coefficient of the program group into which the educational program is classified and other criteria of the educational program, institution and specific area, and in accordance with the Rulebook on Norms and Standards for the Acquisition of Funds from Public Revenues that realize publicly valid educational programs. The aforementioned Rulebook prescribes standards and benchmarks for the formation of departments and groups, the organization of advisory services, libraries, administrative-accounting and technical services and the evaluation of material costs.
For funding public institutions that are not part of the network of institutions, and the founder is the municipality, funds are provided from the municipal budget.
An institution may acquire funds from the municipal budget for:
1. material costs (hygiene maintenance, pest control and disinfection, telephone and postal services, internet);
2. investments at institutions founded by municipalities;
3. insurance of facilities of the institution;
4. compulsory medical and sanitary examination of teachers and children, i.e. pupils;
5. transportation of primary school pupils;
6. fire protection;
7. tax and other charges prescribed by the local government;
8. use of utility services and utilities;
9. land tax and communal fee on business signs.
The salary of employees in education is regulated by the Branch collective agreement for the field of education and the Branch collective agreement for institutions of pupil and student standard. These contracts regulate individual rights and obligations of employees in public institutions in the field of preschool education, elementary education, secondary general education (gymnasium), vocational education and education of children with special needs, pupils dorms. They provide the rights and obligations of employers towards employees, as well as the mutual rights and obligations of the contracting parties.
A public institution is prohibited from financing from the funds of political parties. An institution that is financed from public revenues cannot demand participation from pupils, that is, participants to cover the costs of education (curricular and extracurricular activities). In vocational non tertiary education, for the costs of practical education, a co-payment can be determined in the amount of up to 20% of the cost price of the pupils education for that educational program in a public institution. The cost price of student education has not yet been determined.
Private institutions are financed from the budget of Montenegro in accordance with the General Law on Education and Training, founders funds, tuition fees, donations, sponsorships and legacies and other sources.
1.1. Fundng of early childhood education and care
Preschool upbringing and education in public preschool institutions is financed from the Budget of Montenegro in the manner described above. Enrollment in preschool institutions is possible for all children. In public preschool institutions, in terms of infrastructural capacity, including children and teaching staff, almost 80% of the total costs of preschool upbringing and education are provided by the state. The rest is provided from fees as regulated by the Rulebook on determining the cost of feeding children paid by parents in a public preschool institution. Parents are obliged to pay an average of 40 euros for a full-day program, and 20 euros for a half-day program. Children whose parents are beneficiaries of family financial support pay half of the total monthly amount. Costs of accommodation and food, i.e. the stay of a child of a single parent in a preschool institution in the amount of 50% of the cost of accommodation and food in accordance with a special regulation.
Private preschool institutions are financed from the sources mentioned above.
1.2. Funding of primary education
Primary education and upbringing, as part of the unified education system, is available to all persons from the age 6 to 15, is free for all pupils and is financed to the greatest extent from the state budget based on funds approved by the Budget of Montenegro.
Public institutions of basic education are financed from:
1. public revenues (budget of Montenegro and municipalities)
2. income from property (lease);
3. donation, sponsorship and legacy;
4. other sources.
Private institutions are financed from the sources mentioned above.
1.3. Funding of secondary education
The budget of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation determines the amount of funds for the secondary education sector that implement publicly valid educational programs for institutions founded by the State. In accordance with Article 136 of the General Law on Education and Upbringing, costs related to secondary education are financed, including employee salaries, current costs, energy expenditures, investment maintenance, and the like. Private institutions of secondary education are financed from the sources mentioned above.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, in accordance with Article 49 of the Law on Vocational Education, provides compensation to students of the first and second grade of three-year educational programs who complete practical education with an employer and who have signed an individual contract on practical education (dual form of education). The fee amounts to at least 10% for the first year of education and at least 15% for the second year of education of the average net salary in Montenegro. Compensation for the third year, in the amount of at least 20% of the average net salary in Montenegro. Funds for fees for the first and second year of education are provided by the Ministry, and for the third year of education by the employer.
Financial autonomy and control
Financial control is exercised at the level of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation and the level of the Ministry of Finance.
Fees within public education
The budget of institutions is determined in accordance with the norms and standards established by law and other regulations. The number of teachers is determined depending on the number of pupils, i.e. children and the number of classes, i.e. groups and the norm of lessons. The required number of non-teaching staff is determined depending on the number of pupils, i.e. children, heating method, etc. in accordance with the norms established by the Rulebook on norms and standards for the acquisition of funds from public revenues for institutions that implement publicly valid educational programs. The Rulebook prescribes the number of pupilss as a norm for determining the required number of teaching and non-teaching staff. Schools have the right to finance material costs in the amount determined in relation to net earnings in the institution, and for certain costs in the amount of actual costs.
A number of public institutions generate their own income from issuing school fees, space (lease), donation and others.
According to the analysis from previous years, the average cost of one child in preschool institutions is 920 euros, while the average cost of one pupil in primary schools is around 850 euros.
Financial support for learners' families
Assistance to parents of children of preschool age is provided in accordance with the Rulebook on determining the amount of food costs for children paid by parents in public preschool institutions.
Parents who have two or more children staying in the institution at the same time pay the cost of feeding the children by:
• for the first and second child, they pay the cost of food at the market price
• for the third child, they pay 50% of the market price of food costs
• for the fourth and every subsequent child, they are exempt from the obligation to participate in the payment of food expenses.
In accordance with Article 2b of the Law on Primary Education, every student has the right to free textbooks for elementary school, at the expense of the state budget. The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation through the budget plans significant funds for this item, through the procurement of the textbooks by the Bureau for Textbooks and Teaching Materials.
Financial assistance intended for families with children with special educational needs
The upbringing and education of children with special educational needs is financed from the budget of Montenegro in accordance with the Law on the Education of Children with Special Educational Needs. Teaching assistance is organized for a child with special educational needs in terms of ensuring access to education and educational achievement. Teaching assistance is provided by a teaching assistant who provides technical assistance during class attendance for children with severe physical disabilities, moderate intellectual disabilities, no vision, complete hearing loss and autism, in accordance with the guidance decision. The school concludes a work contract with a teaching assistant in accordance with the rulebook on the systematization and organization of workplaces.
In accordance with the individual developmental and educational program (assessment of educational, developmental needs and goals for the child) and the schedule of classes, the extent of support provided by the teaching assistant is determined under the supervision of the teacher, the professional service and the school director. One teaching assistant can be hired for several children, that is, pupils. The hiring of teaching assistants for several children, i.e. pupils, is done in accordance with the individual development and education program and class schedule. A teaching assistant can be provided to a child with special educational needs while attending classes, as technical assistance in terms of providing access to education and educational achievement.
Financial support for learners
Financial assistance to learners is provided through scholarships, prizes, participation in transportation, free textbooks and mobility programs. Primary and secondary school pupils exercise their right to a scholarship in accordance with the General Law on Education and the Rulebook on detailed criteria and conditions for awarding scholarships to talented primary and secondary school pupils. A talented pupil nominated by the school's teaching council, based on the opinion of the subject teacher, has the right to a scholarship. Scholarships are awarded to talented pupils on the basis of a public competition announced by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation at least one month before the start of the school year. The scholarship is awarded to talented pupils without the obligation to pay it back and is paid in a monthly amount in ten equal monthly installments.
Pursuant to the General Law on Education, the Fund for Quality and Talents was established. Funds from the Fund for Quality and Talents in accordance with the Rulebook on the Distribution of Funds from the Fund for Talent Support, are used for:
• awarding talented pupils;
• supporting projects for the procurement of equipment, school supplies, educational kits, professional and scientific popular literature, organization of research camps, workshops with practical exercises and experiments and for students at international competitions (Olympics and other knowledge fairs);
• organizing reviews and competitions for young researchers.
Scholarships and fees for deficient qualifications
From the 2017/2018 school year, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, in accordance with the General Law on Education, provides scholarships for deficient qualifications to pupils who are educated in three-year programs in order to acquire qualifications that are recognized as deficient in the labor market. The right to participate in the competition can be exercised by pupils who have the status of a regular pupil. Scholarships are awarded to pupils without the obligation to pay them back, they are approved for one school year and are paid in a monthly monetary amount in ten equal monthly installments to pupils who have a regular pupil status. The pupils' success is proven by the educational certificate of the school where the pupils completed primary education.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation announces the competition for awarding scholarships for deficient qualifications in June and August and publishes it on the website of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation.
Admission of pupils to pupils dormitories and exercise of the right to participation in transportation is achieved based on the criteria and in the manner established by the Rulebook on criteria, methods, conditions and amount of compensation for exercise of the right to accommodation and meals in the dormitory, student loan, scholarship and transportation participation. Pupils can stay in the dormitory, i.e. exercise the right to participate in transportation during the teaching period in accordance with the school calendar, i.e. until the completion of the obligations according to the educational program. Admission of pupils to the dormitory is based on a competition announced by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation.
Elementary school pupils who travel five or more kilometers to school have the right to participate in transportation in suburban traffic. High school pupils, who travel five or more kilometers to school, have the right to participate in suburban and intercity transportation. Elementary school pupils have the right to participate in transportation in the amount of 40% from the ticket price, and high school pupils in the amount of 20% of the ticket price. Pupils whose parents or guardians exercise the right to material security according to the regulations on social protection, exercise the right to participate in transportation in the amount of 50% of the ticket price.
A total of 13 municipalities provided free textbooks for first graders - Herceg Novi, Tivat, Bar, Mojkovac and Podgorica, Kotor, Nikšić, Danilovgrad, Bijelo Polje, Cetinje, Budva, Plužine and Berane. Budva and Berane are the only municipalities that provided free textbooks for all elementary school pupils, i.e. for pupils from the first to the ninth grade, while Herceg Novi provides textbooks for elementary school pupils up to the third grade. The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation and the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights provide free textbooks to all RE pupils in Montenegro, if they are not provided by the Center for Social Work.
Private education
A private institution that carries out publicly valid educational programs can be financed from the budget of Montenegro in accordance with the General Law on Education, if it:
1. carries out an educational program from the first to the final grade of schooling;
2. runs an educational program for children of preschool age for at least one year;
3. has at least two first-grade classes enrolled, and for the art school at least 35 pupils;
4. has employed teachers and associates needed for the implementation of the educational program, in accordance with the law and other regulations.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation determines whether a private institution meets the requirements.
Secondary religious schools (which carry out publicly valid educational programs) can be financed from the budget of Montenegro.
Mutual rights and obligations between a private institution and the state are regulated by an administrative contract.
The tuition fee per student, i.e. child in a private institution is determined by the founder. The fee for school fees per pupil or child in a private institution financed from the budget of Montenegro can be up to 10% higher than the funds provided per pupil or child in a public institution.
Funds from the budget of Montenegro are provided to the concessionaire for the implementation of the publicly valid educational program in accordance with the contract.
The state is obliged to ensure that children, pupils, or participants to complete their education from a private institution which, due to the cessation of funding from public revenues, does not carry out a publicly valid educational program.