Overview Serbia

Contents

1 Serbia:Political, Social and Economic Background and Trends

1.1 Serbia:Historical Development
1.2 Serbia:Main Executive and Legislative Bodies
1.3 Serbia:Population: Demographic Situation, Languages and Religions
1.4 Serbia:Political and Economic Situation
2 Serbia:Organisation and Governance
2.1 Serbia:Fundamental Principles and National Policies
2.2 Serbia:Lifelong Learning Strategy
2.3 Serbia:Organisation of the Education System and of its Structure
2.4 Serbia:Organisation of Private Education
2.5 Serbia:National Qualifications Framework
2.6 Serbia:Administration and Governance at Central and/or Regional Level
2.7 Serbia:Administration and Governance at Local and/or Institutional Level
2.8 Serbia:Statistics on Organisation and Governance
3 Serbia:Funding in Education
3.1 Serbia:Early Childhood and School Education Funding
3.2 Serbia:Higher Education Funding
3.3 Serbia:Adult Education and Training Funding
4 Serbia:Early Childhood Education and Care
4.1 Serbia:Organisation
4.2 Serbia:Teaching and Learning
4.3 Serbia:Assessment
4.4 Serbia:Organisational Variations
5 Serbia:Primary Education
5.1 Serbia:Organisation of Primary Education
5.2 Serbia:Teaching and Learning in Primary Education
5.3 Serbia:Assessment in Primary Education
5.4 Serbia:Organisational Variations in Primary Education
6 Serbia:Upper Secondary and Post-Secondary Non-Tertiary Education
6.1 Serbia:Organisation of General Upper Secondary Education
6.2 Serbia:Teaching and Learning in General Upper Secondary Education
6.3 Serbia:Assessment in General Upper Secondary Education
6.4 Serbia:Organisation of Vocational Upper Secondary Education
6.5 Serbia:Teaching and Learning in Vocational Upper Secondary Education
6.6 Serbia:Assessment in Vocational Upper Secondary Education
6.7 Serbia:Organisation of Post-Secondary Non-Tertiary Education
6.8 Serbia:Teaching and Learning in Post-Secondary Non-Tertiary Education
6.9 Serbia:Assessment in Post-Secondary Non-Tertiary Education
7 Serbia:Higher Education
7.1 Serbia:Types of Higher Education Institutions
7.2 Serbia:First Cycle Programmes
7.2.1 Serbia:Bachelor
7.2.2 Serbia:Short-Cycle Higher Education
 7.3 Serbia:Second Cycle Programmes
7.4 Serbia:Programmes outside the Bachelor and Master Structure
7.5 Serbia:Third Cycle (PhD) Programmes
8 Serbia:Adult Education and Training
8.1 Serbia:Distribution of Responsibilities
8.2 Serbia:Developments and Current Policy Priorities
8.3 Serbia:Main Providers
8.4 Serbia:Main Types of Provision
8.5 Serbia:Validation of Non-formal and Informal Learning
9 Serbia:Teachers and Education Staff
9.1 Serbia:Initial Education for Teachers Working in Early Childhood and School
Education
9.2 Serbia:Conditions of Service for Teachers Working in Early Childhood and School
Education
9.3 Serbia:Continuing Professional Development for Teachers Working in Early
Childhood and School Education
9.4 Serbia:Initial Education for Academic Staff in Higher Education
9.5 Serbia:Conditions of Service for Academic Staff Working in Higher Education
9.6 Serbia:Continuing Professional Development for Academic Staff Working in Higher
Education
9.7 Serbia:Initial Education for Teachers and Trainers Working in Adult Education and
Training
9.8 Serbia:Conditions of Service for Teachers and Trainers Working in Adult Education
and Training
9.9 Serbia:Continuing Professional Development for Teachers and Trainers Working in
Adult Education and Training
10 Serbia:Management and Other Education Staff
10.1 Serbia:Management Staff for Early Childhood and School Education
10.2 Serbia:Staff Involved in Monitoring Educational Quality for Early Childhood and
School Education
10.3 Serbia:Education Staff Responsible for Guidance in Early Childhood and School
Education
10.4 Serbia:Other Education Staff or Staff Working with Schools
10.5 Serbia:Management Staff for Higher Education
10.6 Serbia:Other Education Staff or Staff Working in Higher Education
10.7 Serbia:Management Staff Working in Adult Education and Training
10.8 Serbia:Other Education Staff or Staff Working in Adult Education and Training
11 Serbia:Quality Assurance
11.1 Serbia:Quality Assurance in Early Childhood and School Education
11.2 Serbia:Quality Assurance in Higher Education
11.3 Serbia:Quality Assurance in Adult Education and Training
12 Serbia:Educational Support and Guidance
12.1 Serbia:Special Education Needs Provision within Mainstream Education
12.2 Serbia:Separate Special Education Needs Provision in Early Childhood and School
Education
12.3 Serbia:Support Measures for Learners in Early Childhood and School Education
12.4 Serbia:Guidance and Counselling in Early Childhood and School Education
12.5 Serbia:Support Measures for Learners in Higher Education
12.6 Serbia:Guidance and Counselling in Higher Education
12.7 Serbia:Support Measures for Learners in Adult Education and Training
12.8 Serbia:Guidance and Counselling in a Lifelong Learning Approach
 13 Serbia:Mobility and Internationalisation
13.1 Serbia:Mobility in Early Childhood and School Education
13.2 Serbia:Mobility in Higher Education
13.3 Serbia:Mobility in Adult Education and Training
13.4 Serbia:Other Dimensions of Internationalisation in Early Childhood and School
Education
13.5 Serbia:Other Dimensions of Internationalisation in Higher Education
13.6 Serbia:Other Dimensions of Internationalisation in Adult Education and Training
13.7 Serbia:Bilateral Agreements and Worldwide Cooperation
14 Serbia:Ongoing Reforms and Policy Developments
14.1 Serbia:National Reforms in Early Childhood Education and Care
14.2 Serbia:National Reforms in School Education
14.3 Serbia:National Reforms in Vocational Education and Training and Adult Learning
14.4 Serbia:National Reforms in Higher Education
14.5 Serbia:National Reforms related to Transversal Skills and Employability
14.6 Serbia:European Perspective
15 Serbia:Legislation
16 Serbia:Institutions
17 Serbia:Glossary

Serbia:Political, Social and Economic

Background and Trends
Serbia:Historical Development

Serbia:Main Executive and Legislative Bodies

Serbia:Population: Demographic Situation, Languages and

Religions

Serbia:Political and Economic Situation

Serbia:Organisation and Governance

Serbia:Fundamental Principles and National Policies

Serbia:Lifelong Learning Strategy

Serbia:Organisation of the Education System and of its

Structure
Serbia:Organisation of Private Education

Serbia:National Qualifications Framework

Serbia:Administration and Governance at Central and/or

Regional Level

Serbia:Administration and Governance at Local and/or

Institutional Level

Serbia:Statistics on Organisation and Governance

Serbia:Funding in Education
Serbia:Early Childhood and School Education Funding

Serbia:Higher Education Funding

Serbia:Adult Education and Training Funding

Serbia:Early Childhood Education and Care

Serbia:Organisation

Serbia:Teaching and Learning

Serbia:Assessment

Serbia:Organisational Variations

Serbia:Primary Education
Serbia:Organisation of Primary Education

Serbia:Teaching and Learning in Primary Education

Serbia:Assessment in Primary Education

Serbia:Organisational Variations in Primary Education

Serbia:Upper Secondary and Post-Secondary

Non-Tertiary Education
Serbia:Organisation of General Upper Secondary Education

Serbia:Teaching and Learning in General Upper Secondary

Education

Serbia:Assessment in General Upper Secondary Education

Serbia:Organisation of Vocational Upper Secondary

Education

Serbia:Teaching and Learning in Vocational Upper

Secondary Education

Serbia:Assessment in Vocational Upper Secondary Education

Serbia:Organisation of Post-Secondary Non-Tertiary

Education

Serbia:Teaching and Learning in Post-Secondary Non-

Tertiary Education

Serbia:Assessment in Post-Secondary Non-Tertiary

Education

Serbia:Higher Education
Serbia:Types of Higher Education Institutions

Serbia:First Cycle Programmes

Serbia:Bachelor

Serbia:Short-Cycle Higher Education

Serbia:Second Cycle Programmes

Serbia:Programmes outside the Bachelor and Master

Structure

Serbia:Third Cycle (PhD) Programmes

Serbia:Adult Education and Training

Serbia:Distribution of Responsibilities

Serbia:Developments and Current Policy Priorities

Serbia:Main Providers

Serbia:Main Types of Provision

Serbia:Validation of Non-formal and Informal Learning

Serbia:Teachers and Education Staff

Serbia:Initial Education for Teachers Working in Early
Childhood and School Education

Serbia:Conditions of Service for Teachers Working in Early

Childhood and School Education

Serbia:Continuing Professional Development for Teachers

Working in Early Childhood and School Education

Serbia:Initial Education for Academic Staff in Higher

Education

Serbia:Conditions of Service for Academic Staff Working in

Higher Education

Serbia:Continuing Professional Development for Academic

Staff Working in Higher Education

Serbia:Initial Education for Teachers and Trainers Working

in Adult Education and Training

Serbia:Conditions of Service for Teachers and Trainers

Working in Adult Education and Training

Serbia:Continuing Professional Development for Teachers

and Trainers Working in Adult Education and Training

Serbia:Management and Other Education

Staff
Serbia:Management Staff for Early Childhood and School
Education

Serbia:Staff Involved in Monitoring Educational Quality for

Early Childhood and School Education

Serbia:Education Staff Responsible for Guidance in Early

Childhood and School Education

Serbia:Other Education Staff or Staff Working with Schools

Serbia:Management Staff for Higher Education

Serbia:Other Education Staff or Staff Working in Higher

Education

Serbia:Management Staff Working in Adult Education and

Training

Serbia:Other Education Staff or Staff Working in Adult

Education and Training
Serbia:Quality Assurance
Serbia:Quality Assurance in Early Childhood and School
Education

Serbia:Quality Assurance in Higher Education

Serbia:Quality Assurance in Adult Education and Training

Serbia:Educational Support and Guidance

Serbia:Special Education Needs Provision within
Mainstream Education

Serbia:Separate Special Education Needs Provision in Early

Childhood and School Education

Serbia:Support Measures for Learners in Early Childhood

and School Education

Serbia:Guidance and Counselling in Early Childhood and

School Education

Serbia:Support Measures for Learners in Higher Education

Serbia:Guidance and Counselling in Higher Education

Serbia:Support Measures for Learners in Adult Education

and Training

Serbia:Guidance and Counselling in a Lifelong Learning

Approach

Serbia:Mobility and Internationalisation

Serbia:Mobility in Early Childhood and School Education
Serbia:Mobility in Higher Education

Serbia:Mobility in Adult Education and Training

Serbia:Other Dimensions of Internationalisation in Early

Childhood and School Education

Serbia:Other Dimensions of Internationalisation in Higher

Education

Serbia:Other Dimensions of Internationalisation in Adult

Education and Training

Serbia:Bilateral Agreements and Worldwide Cooperation

Serbia:Ongoing Reforms and Policy

Developments
Serbia:National Reforms in Early Childhood Education and
Care

Serbia:National Reforms in School Education

Serbia:National Reforms in Vocational Education and

Training and Adult Learning

Serbia:National Reforms in Higher Education

Serbia:National Reforms related to Transversal Skills and

Employability

Serbia:European Perspective

Serbia:Legislation

Serbia:Institutions
Serbia:Glossary

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Key features of the education system
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development has the overall responsibility
for developing and implementing education policy in Serbia. Schools and preschool institutions have
a significant level of autonomy in organizing and realizing educational programmes and other
educational activities. Higher education institutions enjoy wide autonomy.

Institutions for all levels of education can be state (public) and private. Public educational
institutions are mainly funded from the state budget. The system of their financing is an input-based
system. Private educational institutions do not receive any direct or indirect public funding.

Establishment of educational institutions is monitored by the Ministry of Education, Science

and Technological Development and competent authorities of the province of Voivodina. The
procedure is the same for preschool, primary and secondary education institutions, regardless of the
type of their founder. All higher education institutions must be accredited before obtaining the
working license issued by the Ministry.

Educational system in Serbia consists of Early Childhood Education and Care, Primary
Education, Secondary Education and Higher Education. Primary education and preparatory
preschool programme are mandatory and free. Secondary education is free but not mandatory. All
citizens have access to higher education under equal conditions.

As of the school year 2010/2011, a system-wide implementation of inclusive education occurred.

The Law on Foundations of the Education System (2009) put emphasis on prohibition of
discrimination and segregation, individual education plans, new assessment and evaluation policy,
introduction of teaching assistants, inclusion of children with special education needs into regular
schools by providing support to schools and new financial policy.

Initial education of preschool teachers is provided at colleges of applied studies (preschool

teacher education colleges) or universities (teacher education faculties). Teachers who teach at first
four grades of primary education (class teaching) earn their degree at teacher education faculties.
Subject teachers (grades 5 to 8 of primary education and entire secondary education) complete their
studies at other faculties for specific subjects (i.e. mathematics, biology, chemistry etc.)

Neither specialisation nor Master programmes are required for preschool teachers. Teachers in
primary and secondary education must hold a Master degree, whereas those involved in tertiary
education teaching processes are required to have a PhD degree.

Teachers working in early childhood and school education are obligated to pass a license exam after
one year of induction period during their first employment to continue their teaching career. For
tertiary education teaching staff, there is no such requirement.

Teachers professional development is required and specified by the law. Teachers have to
commit a certain part of their working time to professional development training in order to keep
their position and license. Professional development of academic staff is not required or regulated by
the law, but it is necessary for career progression and is mostly based on scientific work.
Stages of the education system
Educational system in Serbia includes preschool, primary, secondary and higher education.

Preschool education and care is intended for children from 6 months old until they start with
primary education. 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 5 years of age)
preschool preparatory programme (PPP)

Nine months long preschool preparatory programme is the first part of compulsory education. It
accepts children between 5 and 6 years old.

Primary education is compulsory, takes eight years and is carried out in two educational cycles.

Cycle I: 1st to 4th grade

Cycle II: 5th to 8th grade

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

Public primary education is free and the only admission criterion is the age. All children have to be
enrolled in primary school between 6 and 7 years old with the certificate of preschool
programme attendance.

Secondary education consists of:

four years of general education

two to four years of vocational education

There are two types of grammar schools:

grammar schools of general type

specialized grammar schools intended for education of talented students in certain areas

Secondary vocational education is acquired at vocational school in 15 different areas.

Pupils are usually 15 years old when they enter secondary education. They are admitted to schools
based on primary school achievements and final exam results.

Pupils who graduate from grammar schools can enroll at 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 taking university entrance exams.

Higher education system has two types of studies:

academic studies organized at universities

applied studies organized either at colleges of applied studies or at universities

Reform of Serbian higher education system started by joining the Bologna Process in 2003. It
received its legal support in 2005 by the adoption of a new Law on Higher Education. This law
introduced the:

European Credit Transfer System

three-cycle system of study
diploma supplement

All new attendants study under the new reformed study programmes at all higher education
institutions as of 2007/08.

Academic studies

The three-cycle system of academic studies 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.

Applied studies

Vocational studies comprise two levels:

Colleges of Applied Studies, last three years and have 180 ECTS
Specialised Colleges of Applied Studies, carry 60 ECTS and last one year

Adult education can be formal or non-formal.

Formal is realised in regular primary or secondary schools or in schools specialised in adult

education. Non-formal adult education is not in the school system. It is realised through different
forms of professional development training.

Primary adult education takes from three to five years. It is organised by grades. Two grades are
completed in 1 school year. Students who turned 15 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 programme
training

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.

Structure of the education system

 source: Eurydice 2016

Useful links
While the Eurydice Description of National Education Systems provides comprehensive and
comparable information, further information may also be found on the website of the Ministry of
Education, Science and Technological Development