STUDY ON THE OBSTACLES TO EDUCATION IN MONTENEGRO Focus on Roma and Egyptian children Study prepared by: Ipsos Strategic Marketing, Belgrade, Serbia Report prepared by: • Ana Delić • Milica Erić • Milena Lazić • Predrag Kurčubić Expert editing: • Caroline Milena Sykora June, 2013 Study on the obstacles to education in Montenegro 1 Study prepared by: Ipsos Strategic Marketing, Belgrade, Serbia © United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) June 2013 Permission to reproduce any part of this publication is required. Please contact UNICEF Montenegro (Vladike Danila 28, 20 000 Podgorica, Montenegro, Tel: +382 20 224 277; Fax: +382 20 224 278; E-mail: [email protected]). Permissions will be freely granted to educational or non-profit organizations. The statements in this publication are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or the views of UNICEF. Photography: UNICEF Montenegro/Zoran Jovanović Maccak UNICEF Montenegro/Risto Božović Photography on the cover: UNICEF Montenegro/Zoran Jovanović Maccak Proofreading: Peter Stonelake Translation: Ipsos Strategic Marketing, Belgrade, Serbia Design & Prepress: Praxis Montenegro d.o.o. Print: DPC d.o.o. Circulation: 200 copies 2 CONTENT FOREWORD ....................................................................................................................................5 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ..............................................................................................7 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................8 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................10 DETERMINANT ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK ..................................................................................13 SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................................15 Enabling environment ............................................................................................................16 Supply ......................................................................................................................................19 Demand ....................................................................................................................................21 Quality ......................................................................................................................................25 DATA OVERVIEW OF PRIMARY EDUCATION COVERAGE........................................................27 Data on Education of Children in Montenegro ....................................................................28 Out-of-School Children in Montenegro ................................................................................30 1. Roma and Egyptian Children ..........................................................................................30 2. Refugees and DPs ..........................................................................................................32 3. Children with Disabilities ................................................................................................33 4. Children Affected by Poverty ..........................................................................................35 ANALYSIS OF DETERMINANTS IN EDUCATION ........................................................................37 DESK STUDY ..........................................................................................................................38 Enabling Environment ......................................................................................................38 Social Norms ................................................................................................................38 1. Stigma and Discrimination Against Children from Vulnerable Social Groups ....38 Legislation and Policy on Education ............................................................................41 1. Legal and Regulatory Framework on Inclusive Education in Montenegro..........42 2. Strategic Framework in the International Community ........................................44 3. National Strategies and Goals ............................................................................45 4. Local Strategic Plans ..........................................................................................45 Budget and Expenditures on Education in Montenegro ..............................................47 1. Investment for Improvement of the Quality of Education ....................................47 2. Expenditure on Teaching Staff and Utilities ........................................................47 3. Funding of Policies that Target Disadvantaged Children ....................................48 Management and Coordination ....................................................................................49 1. Identifying and Addressing Issues of Early Dropping Out & Enforcement ..........49 2. Identifying Children at Risk of Dropping Out and Taking Preventive Measures ..............................................................................50 Study on the obstacles to education in Montenegro 3 EMPIRICAL STUDY..................................................................................................................52 Supply ................................................................................................................................52 Availability of Essential Commodities and Inputs..........................................................52 1. Proximity of Schools to Family Homes and Transportation ................................52 Access to Adequately Staffed Services ........................................................................55 1. Insufficiently Available Preschool Education ......................................................55 2. Importance of Using Secondary Language in Schools ......................................56 3. Limited Outreach and Child-Seeking Services by Education Systems ..............58 Demand ..............................................................................................................................60 Housing and Financial Access ......................................................................................60 1. Access to Adequate Housing Conditions, Water and Heat ................................61 2. Inability to Pay School Costs ..............................................................................65 3. Contributing to Family Income ............................................................................69 4. Household Responsibilities and Care for Other Family Members ......................71 Cultural Practices and Beliefs ......................................................................................72 1. Free Time............................................................................................................72 2. Friends ................................................................................................................72 Compromised Parental Support for Continuation of Education ....................................74 1. Knowledge about the Educational System ........................................................74 2. Attitude Towards Importance of Education..........................................................74 Literacy of Parents ........................................................................................................82 Early Marriage ..............................................................................................................83 1. Characteristics of Roma and Egyptian Households............................................83 2. Attitudes towards Marriage..................................................................................84 Compromised Motivation for and Interest in Education among Young People ............87 Continuity of Use ..........................................................................................................88 1. Children Outside of the System of Education ....................................................88 Attendance at School ....................................................................................................91 Challenges with Birth Registration and Legal Identity Papers ......................................93 Child Health and Developmental Difficulties as an Obstacle to Enrolment and Attendance............................................................................................93 Quality ................................................................................................................................94 Evaluation of the Reform of the Education System in Montenegro (2010-2012), Implementation of Inclusive Education..........................................................................96 Experiences of children with disabilities........................................................................96 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..............................................................................99 ANNEXES ....................................................................................................................................115 Annex 1: Common Basic Principles on Roma Inclusion ..................................................115 Annex 2: Examples of Good Practice..................................................................................117