School enrollment and preparation in Central and Eastern B

Educational institutions in Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are managing the transition into the 2026/2027 academic year through programmatic updates, structural reforms, and infrastructure investments.

Preschool preparations include administrative changes in Serbia and Croatia. The Nata Veljković Preschool Institution in Kruševac is seeking proposals for English and dance programs, while the Vojnić Kindergarten in Croatia has released a supplementary enrollment plan for its mandatory preschool program.

To meet industry demands, Serbia’s Ministry of Education has introduced six new vocational profiles, such as vehicle mechatronics and renewable energy technicians. In Slovenia, primary school enrollment is declining due to demographic shifts, and schools are facing staffing challenges that have prompted discussions regarding increased teacher autonomy. In the Czech Republic, while South Bohemian schools are expanding capacities in pharmacy and mechanics, Prague institutions are struggling to find enough teaching assistants to meet new mandatory requirements for first-grade classrooms.

Significant infrastructure and STEM investments are also being reported. In Montenegro, approximately 235,000 euros were invested in the Petar I Petrović Njegoš Gymnasium in Danilovgrad for building adaptations, furniture, and STEM equipment. In Croatia, 10 million euros have been allocated for school expansions in Beli Manastir, and the municipality of Podstrana has provided 110,000 euros for educational materials. Additionally, the Železna Gora region reported increased first-grade enrollments following renovations. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nova Bila primary school unveiled a renovated multifunctional informatics classroom to support single-shift operations.