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Education Profiles

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA: KOSOVO

 
Education Overview
 
 
 
 
Grade-by-Grade Comparisons
 
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EDUCATION OVERVIEW
Administration and Finance:
The administration of education in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, is executed at the republic-level by the Ministry of Education (in Serbia) and the Ministry of Education and Science (in Montenegro). They determine the network of elementary and secondary schools and decide on the establishment of postsecondary schools and faculties.  In addition, they determine the number of vacancies at postsecondary schools and faculties, set the financing standards for higher education, appoint school officials and councils, and handle development requirements in the field of education.  Municipalities are responsible for limited financing of local educational facilities.
 
The Law on Universities regulates the activities of faculties, the establishment and work of managing bodies, and the guidelines for selecting teaching staff. However, universities function as autonomous institutions.  
 
Financing of education in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is from government revenues and private funds. State educational facilities are financed through the government; private institutions, through private funds. In 1995, slightly less than 5% of the state budget was allocated to education.
 
Size:  
Approximately 876,000 students are enrolled at all levels of education; exact statistics regarding the number of functioning institutions cannot be provided.
 
Structure:
Pre-school education, though non-compulsory, is a functional part of the education system and, at the same time, constitutes an integral part of the system of social care for children.  In this way, pre-school education also constitutes a part of basic education. 
 
Compulsory elementary education begins at age seven and continues to age 15.  Secondary education lasts three to four years and is offered at comprehensive schools, vocational schools, and schools of the arts. Education at the higher level is two to three years in duration at postsecondary non-university institutions (visa skola, visoka skola) and four to six years at universities. Postgraduate studies leading to master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees is two to six years in duration. Education from the secondary level through doctoral level is arranged in terms of “Levels.”
 
Private and Public Education
Private Education has been recently introduced and it exists at all levels except at the level of elementary education. There are several secondary and postsecondary private institutions and one private university; they are all self-financing establishments.
 
Academic Year:
The academic year runs from September to June in two semesters. 
 
Teacher Education:
Elementary school teachers (grades 1 - 4) are trained in two-year teacher training programmes offered at postsecondary institutions or in four-year diploma programmes at teacher training colleges. Subject teachers (grades 5 - 8), are trained in four-year diploma programmes in the relevant university faculty, as are secondary school teachers. All teachers are required to take a professional teacher’s examination.
 

Revised: May 06, 2004 .
Copyright © 2001 World Education Services.
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