School System
The Croatian educational system provides educational services at the following levels: pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary (higher education), and an adult education system. Special attention is given to the principle of lifelong learning with the aim of including adults and the unemployed in flexible educational and training programmes to prepare them for active participation in the labour market.
Pre-school education in the Republic of Croatia encompasses education and care of the children of preschool age, realized though educational, health care, nourishment and social care programs for children from six months of age until school age.
Eight-year elementary (primary) education in the Republic of Croatia is compulsory and free for all children between the ages of six and fifteen.
Following elementary education, secondary education enables everyone, under equal terms and according to one’s capabilities, to acquire knowledge and skills required for work or continuation of education.
Higher education is implemented in universities, polytechnics and schools of professional higher education.
Pre-school Education
The Republic of Croatia offers numerous possibilities for a high-quality organization of preschool education to all legally capacitated persons in accordance with the legal regulations.
Preschool activity has been regulated as a sub-system of education of the Republic of Croatia since 1997. It should be pointed out that 99 percent of children in the Republic of Croatia in the year before enrolment into school are included in the preschool education programmes, both in regular kindergarten programmes and preschool programmes.
Local communities are most frequently the founders of daycare centers, and they finance pre-school activities in their area. Such communities also have the greatest responsibility to organize pre-school education. Pre-school education for children from the age of six months to six years forms the core of early childhood education. This helps to reduce differences in social background and learning abilities, and meets the child’s developmental needs as closely as possible while preparing children for their entry primary school. Facilities, staff and resources are recommended in order to include all children in preschool education programmes, and particularly in preparation programmes for school.
Primary Education (compulsory age 7-14)
Eight-year elementary education in the Republic of Croatia is compulsory and free for all children at the age of six to fifteen. This refers to all children with permanent residence in the Republic of Croatia, irrespective of their citizenship.
There are three segments of elementary education. Compulsory elementary education conducted in regular elementary schools and special institutions for students with developmental difficulties, art education in elementary music and dance schools, and elementary education of adults conducted in regular schools and specialized institutions.
Elementary music education is also conducted in certain regular elementary schools, as a separate educational program.
Regular schools were mostly founded by the units of local self-government and the towns (828), while some were established by other physical and legal persons (10). In private elementary schools alternative elementary education is available according to special pedagogical principles (Waldorf, Montessori). Education of children with more significant developmental difficulties is conducted in 21 special institutions. Art education is conducted in 56 institutions, 3 of which are private. Education of the representatives of national minorities is carried out in 24 elementary schools, where the program is conducted in the language and writing of a relevant national minority, while 61 elementary schools have classes with program conducted in the language and writing of a relevant national minority.
In addition to 838 elementary schools in the elementary education system we also have the following: special schools, the total of 21 (3 special schools founded by the counties, 16 special schools founded by the towns and municipalities, and 2 special schools founded by other physical and legal persons) and art schools, the total of 56 (13 art schools founded by the counties, 38 art schools founded by the towns and municipalities, and 5 art schools founded by other physical and legal persons.
The priority for primary education is to raise the quality and efficiency of pupils’ learning, and to develop the necessary knowledge and skills that will support the pupils’ personal development. A priority is also to help pupils complete their primary education with the aim to continue their education regardless of capabilities, gender and religious, national or regional affiliation or social status.
In an effort to create schools tailored to pupils, the Croatian National Education Standard (CNES) was developed as the basis for changes in programming and teaching methods in primary education. CNES introduced contemporary teaching methods based on investigative learning, indipendent and group work and applicable knowledge and skills.
The orientation of the Croatian and national educational policy towards creating and developing a knowledge-based society is contained in the document titled Education Sector Development Plan for 2005-2010.
The changes have been initiated on all the levels of the educational system. The basic objective of the change is to improve the quality and advance the educational system on all levels.
Secondary School (optional 4 years / age 15-18)
Secondary education provides everyone, upon the completion of primary schooling, under equal conditions and based on individual capability, the opportunity to acquire knowledge and the competence needed to enter the work force and to undertake further education.
Secondary education is provided by secondary school institutions and other legal persons and includes various types and forms of instruction, education, qualification and training that are carried out pursuant to the provisions of the Primary and Secondary School Education Act.
Secondary school institutions are: secondary schools and pupil's dormitories.
Secondary school programs are as follows:
• secondary school diploma programmes;
• secondary profession degree programmes;
• basic professional degree programmes;
• qualification and training programmes.
Secondary education refers to programmes in grammar schools (“gimnazija”), art schools, four-year vocational schools (technical, economic, health, etc.), as well as three-year vocational schools and programmes for adult education and training. Since the school year 2003/2004, numerous craft and trade programmes have been unified in terms of content and practical training requirements.
Secondary schools, depending on the type of instruction plan and program they offer, are as follows:
• Gymnasiums (general or specialised) carry out an instructional plan and program of at least four years, at the end of which a pupil receives a secondary school diploma.
• Vocational or trade schools (technical, industrial, trade and others, as defined by the type of instructional plan and program they offer) carry out an instructional plan and program of from one to five years, at the end of which pupils receive a secondary professional degree, and programs of from one to two years, at the end of which pupils receive a basic professional degree.
• Art schools (music, dance, visual arts and others, defined by the type of instructional plan and program they offer) carry out an instructional plan and program of at least four years, at the end of which a pupil receives a secondary professional degree.
Grammar school programmes enable students to acquire extensive general education knowledge, which is an excellent basis for continuing education in higher education institutions. Students may enrol in any of four types of grammar school programmes: general, language, natural sciences and mathematics, and classics. Out of the total of 79.2% of primary school graduates who enrol in secondary school, 29% enrol in grammar and 2.5% in arts programmes. Most of those who enrol in arts programmes continue their education at arts academies.
Grammar school students will pass national school graduation examinations beginning in 2009, and students of four-year vocational and arts schools starting in 2010. The state “matura” examination will contribute to the unification of student educational competencies and facilitate access to higher qualified candidates.
Secondary education for adults includes special programs for secondary school diplomas, secondary professional degrees, basic professional degrees, retraining programs and qualification and training programs.
The education of pupils with developmental difficulties is organised in secondary schools with the use of individualised procedures in regular or special class departments and education groups, while pupils with greater difficulties in development are educated in special institutions.