Definition of the Target Group(s)

The target group includes children of Roma and Egyptian population, as well as children with special educational needs in early development.

Specific Support Measures

In the field of early development, additional early intervention programmes are offered by resource centres which involve individual work and actions, as well as periods of stay ranging from a few days to fifteen days or a month.

Early Development Centres have been established as another service provided by resource centres, consisting of a special educator and rehabilitator and expert associates. These centres aim to encourage the development of children with special educational needs, teacher training for adapting the work environment and materials, trainings for parents and the interested members of public community. All kindergartens have been trained by resource centres for early recognition and adaptation to the needs of children (conditions, method of work). The resource centers provided training for the development of specialized and individualized teaching aids, conducted coaching, as well as a fair of assistive technology and customized teaching materials and resources in 7 schools with integrated departments - support centers at the local level.

The Strategy for Social Inclusion of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro 2021-2025 has been adopted. 

The Strategy recognizes the following performance indicators:

Performance indicator 1: Increase the percentage of Roma and Egyptian children attending an early childhood education program
Performance indicator 2: Increase the percentage of members of the Roma and Egyptian community who have completed primary school
Performance indicator 3: Increase the percentage of members of the Roma and Egyptian community who have completed secondary school
Performance indicator 4: Increase the number of members of the Roma and Egyptian community enrolling in higher education institutions on an annual basis

The Strategy envisages the following measures, i.e. activities aimed at improving the position of Roma and Egyptians:

• introducing and strengthening the role of associates in the social inclusion of Roma and Egyptians in the field of education;

• providing free textbooks for children of Roma and Egyptian populations in the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd grade of primary school;

• increasing the enrolment rate of Roma and Egyptian children in secondary school, with particular emphasis on girls;

• granting full exemption from pre-school education costs to children of Roma and Egyptian population;

• informing parents about the possibilities of enrolling children in schools where classes are carried out in Albanian language;

• organising winter and summer camps for the best students of Roma and Egyptian populations of 7^th, 8^th and 9^th grades;

• education and training of parents;

• special measures aimed at reducing dropout rates;

• providing transportation for Roma and Egyptian children;

• organizing tutoring;

• promotional campaigns for enrolment in primary and secondary schools

In line with the Action plan for the implementation of the Strategy for Social Inclusion of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro 2021-2025, upon a public call, each year the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation awards scholarships to secondary school pupils and students of Roma and Egyptian population. For the 2024/2025 school year, 131 pupils and 15 students were awarded with scholarships. The amount of the scholarship is 60 euros for pupils and from the 2024/25. academic year, the stipend for all students, including RE students, increased from the previous 225 euros to 300 euros.

Dormitories of pupils and students determine up to 5% of the capacity for accommodation of students with disabilities, students of RE population and beneficiaries of material security.

The Ministry continuously works on staff training, and from 2021 to 2024, it organized several trainings for mediators in the social inclusion of Roma and Egyptians. The last training was held in August 2024, by which 15 candidates attended the training and the Ministry specifically encourages members of the RE population to apply for this training.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, in cooperation with the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights in March, each year, promotes enrollment in preschool education, primary education and secondary education in municipalities Berane, Bar, Nikšić and Podgorica.

These four municipalities are visited by a team made up of representatives of the mentioned institutions and non-governmental organizations who speak with parents and children old enough to enroll in preschool education, in the first grade of primary school, with the aim of showing them the obligation and importance of primary education. They also speak with ninth grade elementary school students to encourage them to enroll in secondary schools. The idea of the campaign is to raise parents' awareness of the importance of supporting their children on the path to education.

Therefore, statistical data for the 2024/2025 school year record 312 children of RE population enrolled in preschool education, 1,724 primary school pupils and 173 high school pupils enrolled in secondary schools. The number of students enrolled in the academic year 2024/2025, according to the candidates registered for the scholarship competition is 17. 

The engagement of associates (mediators) in the social inclusion of RE population in education continued, in accordance with the norms. This practice has proven to be extremely useful for the inclusion of RE children in the education system, as well as for reducing drop-outs. Based on the newly adopted Rulebook on Amendments to the Rulebook on Norms and Standards for the Acquisition of Funds from Public Revenues for Institutions Implementing Publicly Valid Educational Programs one mediator in social inclusion provides assistance to 35 children of the RE population, instead of 70 as provided by the previous Rulebook. Mediators can be engaged in preschool institutions as well. Currently, 33 associates (mediators) are engaged in primary schools. 

Free transportation was provided for about 600 elementary school pupils of RE population in Podgorica, Nikšić, Berane and Cetinje.

A Pilot project "Intensive literacy" was implemented in 3 primary schools in Podgorica. The project included 60 pupils from the third to the fifth grade. After assessing the level of adoption of basic reading and writing skills, groups were formed and an individualized approach was applied in accordance with the possibilities. The team for the implementation of the Project consisted of pedagogues, psychologists, speech therapists and teachers.

Upon a public call, for the 2023/2024 school year the Ministry has awarded: 65 scholarships to the best high school students, 21 scholarships for the best primary school students, 14 scholarships for students for deficient occupations

Scholarships for Talented Students

In accordance with the Call for Awarding Scholarships to Talented Students, the Ministry of Education gives scholarships to talented students of primary and secondary schools in line with the defined criteria. The amount of the scholarship is 57 Euros.

For the 2023/2024 school year the numbers are as follows:

• 65 scholarships to the best high school students

• 21 scholarships for the best primary school students

• 14 scholarships for students for deficient occupations