More than 90 NGOs and civic activists: Education must remain secular

Civil society organizations oppose the initiative to introduce religious education into the Montenegrin education system, believing that such a proposal is contrary to the principles of secularism (religious neutrality of public institutions), fundamental constitutional values, and the best interests of children and youth.

The statement signed by 90 NGOs and several civil activists states that they believe that the education system must remain a space of togetherness, learning and development, and not division and segregation on religious grounds.

"Religious education is explicitly prohibited in public educational institutions in Montenegro (Art. 5 of the General Law on Education), and the initiative now calls for the lifting of this ban and the introduction of religious education in primary and secondary schools. According to the Constitution of Montenegro and the current laws on education, Montenegro is a secular state, in which religious communities are separated from the state. Accordingly, the state education system must also remain secular. It must be taken into account that subjects that are based on scientific disciplines are studied in state schools. Sciences acquire knowledge through scientific research, which encourages doubt and constant refinement, and which are open to interventions and better evidence. Religious teachings, on the contrary, are based on dogma, are irrefutable, do not allow for doubt and insist on faith," it was announced.

They believe that in a comprehensive system of education for children, it is unacceptable to have units based on approaches that are opposed to each other.

"Much more useful for children and young people is civic education, which includes critical thinking, ethics, media literacy, inclusion and non-violent communication skills. These contents should be enriched through reform in curricula, instead of religious dogmas. Of particular concern is the fact that the Parliament of Montenegro gave this initiative priority status, despite the negative views of the professional public, some institutions and civil society organizations, as well as the fact that there is neither professional nor social justification for its consideration. When the Parliament of Montenegro introduced the E-petition mechanism in 2023, it was a positive step towards more active participation of citizens in decision-making processes. However, there was no legal definition of the Parliament's obligation regarding petitions that receive enough signatures to be processed, i.e. 6000 signatures or more. In practice, this means that the Parliament has the right to reject any petition that it does not consider a priority, which we have already witnessed, because in the meantime only four petitions have been submitted to the competent parliamentary committees, out of a total of seven that were supported with at least "6.000 signatures," the statement reads.

They add that the petition for the introduction of religious education in schools, which was launched on March 11th, had a sufficient number of signatures on March 19th.

"The Parliament has scheduled a session of the competent Committee on Education, Science, Culture and Sports for April 16th, thus breaking its record for prompt action when it comes to received petitions and setting a precedent of sorts, as they decided to consider an open petition for which signatures are still being collected before the deadline, which, according to the E-petition website of the Parliament of Montenegro, is May 10, 2025."

The statement also states that the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Anđela Jakšić-Stojanović (Europe Now Movement, PES), believes that religious education is not necessary in the education system, and that this opinion was also shared by her predecessor, Miomir Vojinović, from the Socialist People's Party (SNP).

They also add that for the chairman of the relevant parliamentary committee, Nikola Rovčanin (Democrats), "this is now a priority."

"Previously, the Institute for Education stated that the issue of religion in the education system is already appropriately regulated, since children have the opportunity to learn about religion through the elective subject of history of religion, which is available in the ninth grade of elementary school and in secondary schools. Through the subject of history of religion, all children have the opportunity to learn together about all religions and their customs, which encourages interculturalism and togetherness, while religious education would separate the children of believers from the children of atheists, and would further separate the children of believers into different faiths, which would further emphasize the divisions based on ethnic and religious distance in Montenegrin society, which are already pronounced."

The statement also states that for families who want religious education for their children, religious communities are already organizing religious classes in their facilities.

"The education system must remain a place where children are not separated on any grounds, but rather learn together, grow and develop the skills of living together in a democratic society that is ethnically, culturally and religiously diverse," it was announced.

The announcement is signed by:

1. Human Rights Action (HRA)
2. Center for Civic Education (CGO)
3. Center for Women's and Peace Education ANIMA
4. Educational community of Montenegro
5. Now Femina
6. SPEKTRA Association
7. Center for Investigative Journalism (CIN-CG)
8. Montenegrin PEN Center
9. Montenegrin LGBTIQ association Kvir Montenegro
10. Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCJK)
11. KOD
12. Yellow turtle – Normalizuj.me
13. Municipal Multiple Sclerosis Association Bijelo Polje
14. Association of Disabled Youth of Montenegro (UMHCG)
15. Fine
16. Juventas
17. Agency for Local Democracy
18. Ipso facto
19. Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM)
20. Society of Montenegrin Publishers
21. Ecological movement Ecopatriotism
22. Center for Monitoring and Research (CeMI)
23. Center for the Affirmation of the RE Population (CAREP)
24. Montenegrin women's lobby
25. Center for Democratic Transition (CDT)
26. Center for Civil Liberties (CEGAS)
27. Association of Lawyers of Montenegro
28. Center for the Development of Non-Governmental Organizations (CRNVO)
29. Sociological Center of Montenegro (SOCEN)
30. LINK – Montenegrin Harm Reduction Network
31. Bihor Cultural Center
32. Association "Štrpci - Against Oblivion"
33. Construction site
34. Expeditio
35. Empty space
36. Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for the Protection of Human Rights
37. Center for Women's Rights (CŽP)
38. Corypheus Theater
39. Pen
40. Monte Linguistic
41. Association of Professional Journalists of Montenegro (DPNCG)
42. Association of History Professors of Montenegro – HIPMONT
43. Safe Women's House (SŽK)
44. Media Institute of Montenegro (IMCG)
45. Legal representative
46. Anti-fascists of Cetinje
47. Institute for Gender Equality "Dulcinea"
48. Ulcinj Info
49. New Horizon
50. HUSEIN PASHA
51. Center for Multimedia Production (CEZAM)
52. Association of Psychologists of Montenegro
53. Training ground for female excellence - Sofia
54. Active zone
55. Dr Martin Schneider-Jacoby Association –MSJA
56. Education Plus
57. Balkan sector
58. Bona Fide Pljevlja
59. Alliance for Children and Youth – House
60. Forum MNE
61. Bosniak Forum of Montenegro
62. Center for Economic and European Studies (CEES)
63. ERA - Alliance for Equal Rights of LGBTI People in the Western Balkans and Turkey
64. SOS Rožaje
65. Training and Education Center
66. Center for Roma Initiatives
67. Monitoring Group Ulcinj – MogUL
68. ALFA Center
69. LBTQ Women's Association "Stana"
70. Children of Montenegro
71. Montenegrin Association of Political Science Students - MAPSS
72. Roma youth organization "Walk with us - Phiren Amenca"
73. Alumni Academy of the Faculty of Law, University of Montenegro
74. Foundation for the Promotion of Science – Prona
75. Montenegrin Cultural Circle
76. Our action
77. NOVA Center for Feminist Culture
78. Bridge of Culture
79. SOS hotline for women and children Nikšić
80. My chance is also your chance.
81. Heart
82. MULTIMEDIAL Montenegro
83. Social justice - Social justice
84. Association of Parents of Children and Youth with Developmental Disabilities "OAZA"
85. 35 mm
86. Potreba – Need
87. Civic Initiative "21 May"
88. Plan B
89. International Police Organization of Montenegro
90. System

1. Dina Bajramspahić, civic activist
2. Jovana Marović, civic activist
3. Goran Đurović, civic activist
4. Dragoljub Vuković, journalist and civic activist
5. Tamara Milaš, civic activist
6. Dušan Pajović, civic activist
7. Aleksandar Dragićević, civic activist