From September on Compulsory Secondary School

An experimental education model will be launched which will be implemented for two to three years, followed by the change of Constitution

At today's conference held in Zagreb University Chancellor Hall, a conference was held on introduction of a model of compulsory secondary education, which should be implemented in the next two to three years at an experimental level, offering space for possible amendments and repairs of the model and in several years time, it would result in a change of the very Constitution.

The model is being introduced in September, and it will cover all four year and three year course secondary schools and it will, in terms of the needs of Croatian economy, include introduction of a year and a half and two year syllabus of vocational schools.

- The basic problem in introducing the model refers to the issue of clearly defining the term 'compulsory' and 'free', and the way of introducing changes and dynamics with which it will be carried out – Minister Primorac stressed.

How 'compulsory' is compulsory

Even though the general public mostly supported the reform of education, as well as 50 % of the young who failed to complete the secondary school, the question is what happens to individuals who will not want to participate in the mentioned model. Will they have to join some of special educational programmes and will such programmes be free or will students have to finance them on their own?

If the obligation to join the mentioned model is not respected, the Government suggests certain measures, pre-emptive ones that warn of not respecting the law, and then repressive measures follow, that would include reporting the case to social care, which could lead to taking the child away from his/her parents.

- Croatia cannot be competitive on the labour market without a quality education system – Branimir Mihalinec, President of the Independent Union of Secondary School Employees concluded, and he also stressed that it is necessary that the teacher also progresses in the mentioned educational system.

What good will it bring us?

It is expected that the implementation of the model would enlarge the ratio of citizens with secondary school from 69.5% to 75 %, employment for additional teachers, raising the quality of classes, building of new schools and students' homes and enlarging the number of experts in schools and homes.

In the next experimental year, students will have free textbooks, free transportation to school and free stay in students' homes.

One of the goals of the model is a socially integrative individual.