Education system in Croatia Primary school BOL Split , May 201 4

1. Educationsystem inCroatia Primary school BOL Split, May2014

2. Theaims • To increase the quality of education that will meetthe needs of local culture, economy and knowledge-based society in line with democratic principles • To encourageandcontinuouslyimproveintelectual, physical, social, moral andspiritualdevelopmetntofeach student according to his/her needs, skillsandabilities • To ensure the right to education for everyone • To trainstudents how to learnandhelpthem to learn • To preparestudents for differentlifepossibilitiesandtemptations • To teachthemvaluesoflifeanddignity

3. Thevalues • independence • exploringspirit • creativity • communication • decency • self-confidence • respect • tolerance • responisibilty • equality • solidarity • cooperation

4. Qualifications of Teachers AllteachersshouldhaveGraduatelevelofeducationalstudies Eachteacher is obliged to attendworkshopsandmeetingsorganizedby MZOS (on theCountyand State- level) Teacherscanbepromotedinteacher-mentor or teacher-advisoraccording to theireffortandaccomplishment(min. 6 yearsofexperienceintheclassroomneeded) Headmastersshouldhave min. Graduatelevelofeducationalstudiesand 5 yearsof work experienceintheclassroom

5. School funding From the central government through the local municipalities. School directors are responsible for the financial management in cooperation with a municipal committee Teachers are civil servants, paid by the government.

6. Croatianeducationsystem

8. Primary school • Lasts for eightyears • from age 6 or 7  14 or 15 • Compulsoryeducation • Article65 oftheConstitutionstates: „Primaryeducationshallbecompulsoryandfree”

9. Organisation Number of studentsintheclass: up to 28 8 grades Lowerlevel or classroomteaching(Year 1 to 4) – one teacherexcept for ForeignLanguageandReligiousEducation Higherlevel or subjectteaching(Year 5 to 8) – eachsubjecttaughtby a particularteacher

10. Year 1-4 • COMPULSORY SUBJECTS: • Croatian, Maths, Science, Art, Music, English, PE • OPTIONAL SUBJECTS: • Religion, Secondforeignlanguage • Afterschoolclasses • Extracurricularactivities • Homeroom class • English language is compulsory from Year 1

11. Year5-8 • COMPULSORY SUBJECTS • OPTIONAL SUBJECTS - Religion, Sedondforeignlanguage (German, Italian, French), ICT, football • Afterschoolclasses • Extracurricularactivities • Homeroomclass

12. Grading system • 5 – excellent • 4 – very good • 3 – good • 2 – sufficient • 1 – insufficient / FAIL • No marksduringthe half terminYear 1

13. School time The schoolyear lasts 175 days Schools run 5 days a week, 35 weeks a year Lessonlasts: 45minutes Weekly timetable: Year 1 – 4:20hrsa week Year 5-6:24hrsa week + optionalsubjects(2-6 hrs) Year 7-8: 28hrsa week + optionalsubjects(2-6 hrs)

14. TIMETABLE Year 1-4 – inshifts (Morning/afternoon) Compulsorysubjects:8 am – 1.10pm/ 2pm - 7.10pm Optionalsubjects: inoppositeshift Year5-8– inthemorning CompulsorysubjectsandReligion:8 am – 1.10pm Optionalsubjectsand PE: 1.10pm-7.10pm

15. Secondary schools • Not compulsory • Article 65 of the Constitution states: Secondary and higher education shall be made equally accessible to all, on the basis of capacity • Last for three or four years

17. Universities • Institutions of higher education that organise and implement university studies in at least two scientific and/or artistic areas in a larger number of fields. • Universities of Zagreb, Osijek, Split, Rijeka, Pula, Dubrovnik and Zadar • Universities include components that are legal persons and are called faculties or art academies. • Theycarry out university study programmes and conduct research

18. Privateinstitutionsofhighereducation • In Croatia there are: • private polytechnics (e.g. Polytechnic in Velika Gorica, VERN Business College, Polytechnic for media, business and management) • 25 private schools of professional higher education (e.g. American College of Management and Technology, International Graduate School for Management in Zagreb, RRiF School of Financial Management, etc.)

19. University studies • Undergraduate • Graduate • Postgraduate (doctoralstudy) • Exception: integratedundergraduateandgraduatestudy (Law)

20. Undergraduateuniversitystudy • The first level normally lasts for three years during which students earn 180 ECTS • A smaller number of undergraduate studies in Croatia are administered as four-year studies during which students earn 240 ECTS (e.g. Social Work) • University degree:bachelor

21. Graduate university study • The second level normally lasts for two years during which students earn 120 ECTS. • A smaller number of graduate studies in Croatia are administered as one-year studies in which students earn 60 ECTS. • After the completion of the studies, students receive the diploma and the academic title of master with the indication of the profession.

22. Postgraduateuniversitystudy (doctoralstudy) • The third level normally lasts for three years. • After its completion, students receive the diploma and the academic title of the doctor of science with the indication of the scientific or art field. • Universities autonomously regulate the usage of ECTS in postgraduate university studies.

23. Polytechnics • Public polytechnics and schools of professional higher education are institutions of higher education that implement professional studies. • These two types of higher education institutions differ in the scope of their curriculum: polytechnics are the institutions of higher education that organise and implement at least three different studies from at least three different scientific fields. • Their mission is to provide professional education to students, with the emphasis on practical application and they commonly include practical work.