Art is often on the margins of the education system in Montenegro, and this is not only the case with education, but also with society in general, and this needs to change. This is what parents of kindergarten, elementary and high school students want, as indicated by educators, but also by the business sector.
“Art encourages creative thinking, the ability to visualize problems and solutions, empathy, and teamwork,” he says. Biljana Krivokapic, computer science teacher at the Podgorica Elementary School "Štampar Makarije".
"Art is not just an addition to science, it is a bridge between ideas and their application," says the company "Domen".
"Domen", the registration agent for the national internet domain .me, has been promoting the STEM model for years, and recently they added Art to the educational initiative they have been promoting for years - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics:
“STEM fosters innovation, but when we add art, we get a whole new way of thinking - a fusion of logic and imagination, science and aesthetics. Leonardo da Vinci "He knew this centuries ago when he said: 'Study the science of art. Study the art of science.' Some of the greatest scientists and innovators of all time were also artists. A large number of Nobel Prize winners in science played an instrument, painted or wrote poetry. Art develops a different way of thinking, sensitivity to detail and expression of ideas that cannot always be explained by a formula," they state on the steamedukacija.me portal, announcing the launch of an educational initiative that expands the approach to learning and development of young people in Montenegro from STEM to the STEAM model.
Aware that there is interest in STEM fields among young people and that adding art can further enrich the educational process, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MESI) says that they will consider how to find adequate models and teaching methods for its clear implementation...
What do parents say?
Parents in Montenegro believe that math, science, and programming are key skills for their children's development. This was shown by data obtained through an online questionnaire by the Association "Parents", conducted at the beginning of the school year. In this sense, parents do not separate art and culture either.
Through a questionnaire, completed by over 5,5 thousand parents of kindergarten-age children, and primary and secondary school children, from all municipalities of Montenegro, they were able to express what they consider important to change in the education system.
"In line with global trends and labor market needs, parents recognize the importance of developing children's digital and STEM skills. It is recommended that these areas be particularly strengthened through curricula, while ensuring the necessary digital infrastructure and teaching materials in schools," the executive director of the NGO told "Vijesti". Kristina Mihailović.
Analysis of the responses, she reminds us, shows that 85 percent of parents see STEM skills as crucial for their children's future.
“This reflects the importance of STEM fields in the modern world of work and the need for the education system to keep pace with this,” she said.
An analysis of the responses to the NGO's questionnaire also showed that an approximate percentage, around 80,3 percent of parents, highlight art and culture as important or very important.
This, says Mihailović, indicates the need to preserve and promote these values in education.
Art and music on the margins
The parents' views are confirmed by Biljana Krivokapic, computer science teacher at the Podgorica Elementary School "Štampar Makarije":
"Art encourages creative thinking, the ability to visualize problems and solutions, empathy and teamwork. All of these are skills that are also crucial in science, technology and engineering. When a student learns to draw a sketch of a robot, he not only develops artistic literacy, but also learns how to present his idea, plan a structure, anticipate possible obstacles. Art teaches young people to think outside the box, not to be afraid of making mistakes and to develop their personal expression, and that is all that is needed in a modern IT and STEAM environment," Krivokapić told "Vijesti".
According to her, art is often marginalized in the Montenegrin education system, but this is not only the case in the education system, but in society in general:
"The number of lessons in music and art classes in elementary schools is minimal, usually one lesson per week. However, the contribution of art in everything we do is immeasurable. For example, in my work with students involved in robotics, art design, composing musical effects or preparing a set for a project presentation are the main elements that move them, motivate them and make them connect with the topic on a deeper level. This additionally ensures that even those students who may not initially be 'technically' oriented, contribute to the team in their own way precisely through artistic effect."
Biljana Krivokapić also said that as a computer science teacher and mentor in the field of robotics, she witnesses every day how important it is for children to learn through integrated content, in which knowledge does not remain isolated within one area, but is connected across multiple subjects.
"It is precisely in my practice working with children, especially through extracurricular activities such as robotics, that I witness the inevitable combination of programming and design, with the aim of creating robots that not only technically function, but are also visually attractive, functional in real space and often inspired by a story that the children themselves have created," she said.
STEM is developing, but there is still work to be done
According to her, STEM is developing in the Montenegrin education system, but it is not yet systemically rooted.
“There are bright examples of individual schools, teachers and initiatives, but more as a result of enthusiasm and personal initiative than a strategic approach. However, for such models to be sustainable and systemically present, clear support from the Ministry and the integration of the STEM/STEAM approach across all levels of education are needed. What is encouraging is the fact that this year, through the MPNI program within the EPALE platform, STEM has been set as a central theme, which shows that there is awareness of the importance of such an approach. I believe that this initiative will encourage new projects, connections and support for teachers, so that the STEM approach becomes an integrated part of teaching and extracurricular activities.”
MPNI considers how to add art
The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation welcomed the “Domena” initiative, which expands the STEM educational model into STEAM. This initiative, they stated in a response to “Vijesti”, “could be a significant step towards the modernization of education in Montenegro.”
"And it is not something that the Ministry has not already recognized in its public policies. The inclusion of art in scientific, technological, engineering and mathematical disciplines enables the development of creative thinking, which is one of the key goals of the education reform that we will work on in the coming period," they stated in a response from the department that leads the Anđela Jakšić Stojanović and add that the Education Reform Strategy 2025 to 2035 is focused on an interdisciplinary approach and the promotion of innovative solutions.
As they said, the STEM model is already present in the Montenegrin education system, its application is gradually expanding, and as one example they cite the "Petar I Petrović" Gymnasium from Danilovgrad, where a STEM club has been established.
This club, "Vijesti" recently announced, was founded on the initiative of a student. Ive Otasevic, with support and in cooperation with professors from the STEM field.
This example, according to the education department, shows that there is interest in STEM fields among young people, and adding art, as they said, can further enrich the educational process:
"This is something we will consider in the coming period, with the aim of finding adequate models and teaching methods for its clear implementation"...
A natural ally of digital transformation
The STEAM approach is a natural ally of digital transformation, says Biljana Krivokapić.
“It promotes an interdisciplinary approach to learning, using digital tools not only as tools, but also as platforms for expression and creation. In the modern world, where the boundaries between science, technology and art are increasingly blurred, the education system must recognize that creativity, innovation and art are not an add-on, but the core of modern competencies,” she said.
It is through the STEAM approach, she added, that teaching can be modernized, making it more project-oriented, team-based, and research-based.
"We can include art as a space where students learn to present, argue, and feel. In my workshops and projects, it is precisely this combination of programming, design, music, and narrative that leads to the most powerful results, because students learn with their entire personality," said Krivokapić.
What does the Education Reform Strategy foresee?
The Education Reform Strategy 2025 to 2035 and the Action Plan for the period 2025 to 2026 lay the foundation for the modernization of the education system, including STEM initiatives, said the Ministry of Education and Science.
These initiatives include, among other things, the introduction of mandatory STEM modules in primary and secondary schools, to increase students' digital literacy and technical skills, and the development of experimental learning laboratories in schools, including equipment for robotics, programming, and engineering projects.
There is, they add, support for STEM clubs in high schools and vocational schools, such as the one in the Danilovgrad High School, to encourage practical learning through projects and competitions, and to encourage the development of creative industries through cooperation with universities and the private sector, in order to prepare students for the labor market in fields that combine art and technology.
“Introducing e-learning platforms for STEM and art subjects, enabling students to access interactive content, developing digital textbooks that combine scientific and artistic concepts through multimedia materials. All these initiatives are part of the Ministry's broader vision, which, through the Government's strategic policies, is strongly directed towards the development and modernization of the education system. Our goal is to create an educational framework that will be dynamic, innovative and ready to effectively respond to the challenges of the global market.”
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