More than 4.000 students, foreign citizens, graduated from primary and secondary schools last school year, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MPNI) told "News".
From the department he heads Anđela Jakšić Stojanović they said that, at the level of primary education, most students who are foreign citizens were in coastal cities.
"The largest number of students, foreign citizens, is in Budva (1.003), Bar (930), Herceg Novi (567) and Podgorica (986)," said the MPNI.
At the level of secondary education, the most foreign students were in Podgorica (242), Bar (192), Budva (149), Herceg Novi 116.
According to the data of the Administration for Statistics (Monstat), in the school year 2023/24. year, 70.669 students were enrolled in primary schools.
The MPNI explains that information on the success of students, including foreign students, will be available at the beginning of the next school year, after all remedial and class exams have been completed and "data processing".
The Ministry points out that support for learning "our language as a non-native language according to the publicly valid subject program" has been implemented.
"...With two additional classes per week during the academic year, which are financed from the budget of the Ministry. In cooperation with UNICEF, textbooks for the Montenegrin language as a non-native subject were provided," they told "Vijesta".
They pointed out that the Institute of Education of Montenegro (ZZŠ) developed "Guidelines for the inclusion of students from other speaking areas in educational institutions in Montenegro", as well as "Guidelines for the evaluation and assessment of students from other speaking areas in educational institutions in Montenegro".
"Also, teams have been formed in schools for the inclusion of children from other speaking areas, which provide support to children and their parents. In addition, a support mechanism for children with special educational needs has been conceived," said the MPNI.
The institution of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms announced at the end of last year that there are about 7.000 foreign children in Montenegrin kindergartens and schools.
The ombudsman, after a self-initiated tour of several educational institutions in Podgorica, Budva, Bar, Tivat..., warned that these children do not know the language well, which is why educators are facing serious problems.
According to information from the institution of the Protector, the largest number of foreign children enrolled in kindergartens.
At the time, the protector was also of the opinion that greater support is necessary for children who have language barriers. Enlighteners also need more support, they said.
"During the tour of the municipalities, the protector noticed that the largest number of foreign children were enrolled in schools/kindergartens that have a pronounced problem of overbooking for a long period of time due to insufficient space and personnel capacities. We remind you of the provisions of the Law on Basic Education, which stipulates that the Ministry designates a school that has the material, spatial, personnel and other conditions for organizing classes for students who join classes for the first time and do not know or do not know enough of the language in which classes are held ", it is stated in the defender's opinion.
From the Jakšić Stojanović department, they say that they are aware of the problems faced by foreign students, as well as teachers.
"Employees in schools and the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation strive to solve all the problems these children face, in order to provide them with the highest quality and most successful education possible. The Ministry is trying, through teachers and their additional work with children after regular classes, to provide the best possible conditions and atmosphere", the MPNI concluded.
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