Education System in Serbia Institutions and Other Organizations IGCSE Global Perspectives

Educational work and activities are conducted by: preschool institutions, providing preschool education; elementary schools, elementary schools for the education of adults, elementary music schools, elementary ballet schools and elementary schools for the education of pupils with developmental disabilities, providing elementary education; secondary schools, namely: gymnasiums (general and specialized gymnasiums), vocational schools, combined schools (gymnasium and vocational or art schools), arts schools, secondary schools for the education of adults, and secondary schools for pupils with developmental disabilities, providing secondary education; institutions of higher education - universities, faculties and art academies as part of universities, academies for vocational studies, junior colleges, and junior colleges for vocational studies, providing higher education.

Preschool Education The preparatory preschool program has been mandatory since the beginning of the academic year 2006/07. According to stipulations of Article 85 of the Law on the Fundamentals of the Education System, preschool programs are carried out as a preparatory program for primary school, as part of preschool education. In the year preceding starting school, the program is carried out for four per day, for a period of at least six months. The preparatory preschool program is part of compulsory education, which lasts for nine years.

Primary Education Primary education is compulsory and lasts eight years. Is carried out in two education cycles: the first from first to fourth grade, organized through the classroom teaching, and the second cycle of fifth to eighth grade through subject teaching.

The implementers of primarily education are primary schools. Primary schools carry out school programs, and may also carry out: - individual educational plans for students and adults with disabilities, - individual Serbian- or minority-language programs, for students who do not know the language of instruction, - school programs of music and ballet education, - school programs of adult education, - education programs for students at boarding schools, - other programs, in accordance with the law. Primary schools may also carry out preschool programs.

Secondary Education The implementers of secondary education are secondary schools. Secondary schools carry out programs of general, vocational and artistic education, and may also carry out: - individual educational plans for students and adults with disabilities, - individual Serbian- or minority-language programs for students who do not know the language of instruction, - school programs of music and ballet education, - school programs of adult education, - education programs for pupils at boarding schools, - specialist and master education programs, - job training, - vocational programs, training, - other programs, in accordance with the pertaining law. Exceptionally, a secondary school may carry out preschool programs, a program of primary education, and an education program.

Higher Education Higher education activities are carried out by the following institution of higher education: University, Faculty and Art Academy, Academy of vocational studies, College, College of vocational studies.

University University is an independent institution of higher education, whose activities combine educational and scientific, vocational, or artistic work, as well as components integrated process of high education. A university can perform all types and levels studies. The institution of higher education has the status of university, if it carries out academic study programs at all study levels, in at least three fields (natural sciences and mathematics, socio-humanistic, medical, technical and technological sciences, and the arts) and three areas (within these fields, as determined by the National Council). Exceptionally, the university can be established in the arts, if all three levels of studies exist for at least three areas of art.

Faculty and Art Academy Faculty and Art Academy, part of a university A faculty, or an art academy, is a higher education institution that is part of a university, which carries out the academic study programs and develops scientific, vocational, or artistic work in one or more areas. Faculties and art academies may also carry out vocational study programs. Faculties and art academies conduct legal affairs under the name of the university that they belong to, and under their own name, in accordance with the statute of the university.

Academy of vocational studies Academy of vocational studies is an independent institution of higher education whose activities combine education, research, vocational and artistic work, as components of the integrated process of higher education. Academies of vocational studies can perform undergraduate vocational studies and specialist vocational studies. An institution of higher education has the status of academy of vocational studies if it carries out at least five accredited study programs of professional studies, in at least three fields.

College A college is an independent institution of higher education that carries out academic undergraduate, specialist and graduate academic studies, in one or more areas.

College of vocational studies A college of vocational studies is an independent institution of higher education that performs undergraduate vocational and specialist vocational studies in one or more areas.