CCE: The educational structure of Montenegro is changing, but too slowly

The educational structure directly affects the labor market, productivity, and social mobility, and without stronger and strategic investments in this area, progress will remain insufficient for the necessary developmental strides, according to the Center for Civic Education (CCE).

The NGO pointed out that, according to Monstat data from the 2023 census, more than half of Montenegrin citizens have only completed secondary school, 52,7 percent, while 26,2 percent have higher education.

It is stated that compared to 2021, the share of highly educated people has increased from 17 percent to 26,2 percent, the number of those with primary or incomplete education has decreased, and the share of people without schooling has almost halved.

It is added that this is a positive trend, but it also raises an important question - why secondary education still dominates, while higher education does not reach even a third of the population.

"The educational structure directly affects the labor market, productivity, and social mobility. Without stronger and strategic investments in education, these advances will remain insufficient for the necessary developmental strides," CCE states.

It is emphasized that education must therefore be at the forefront of public policies by improving quality at all levels, democratizing the University of Montenegro, investing in young people who demonstrate excellence, but also in those in the education system who introduce modern work methods and achieve concrete results.