Formal education in Bosnia and Herzegovina
As part of DRUPWB project, we bring you list of articles presenting the current educational realities in the 6 countries participating in the project; Lithuania, Germany, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro.
In this article we will reflect on the formal education sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a Balkan country in Southeast Europe, known for its diverse cultural heritage, historical significance, and stunning natural landscapes, including picturesque mountains and rivers.
At the entity level in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are two ministries responsible for formal education.
In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is the Ministry of Education and Science, while in Republika Srpska, it is the Ministry of Education and Culture.
In the Brčko District, the responsibility for education is delegated to the Education Sector of the District Government.
Each of the ten cantons in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has their own Ministry of Education and regulations on education. Cantons independently finance education according to their constitutional powers, and cantonal ministries of education are also responsible for science, culture, and sports. Budgets, capacities, and sizes of these ministries vary from canton to canton.
Financing of formal education in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Formal education in Bosnia and Herzegovina is mostly financed from public funds of the entity budget, cantonal budget, Brčko District budget, and municipal budget, depending on the jurisdiction. This practically means that there are thirteen separate budgets for education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including two entity budgets, one in the Brčko District, and ten cantonal budgets.
Republika Srpska allocates about 4% of its GDP for education, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina allocates about 6% of GDP, while the Brčko District allocates 11.2% of the total District budget for education.
The fragmentation of the education system is reflected in this segment, as there are significant differences in average spending per student, as well as differences in salary levels and allowances for employees in the education sector across the country.
Levels of formal education
Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina is organized into four basic levels: preschool education and upbringing, primary, secondary, and higher education.
According to the latest available statistical data from the 2022/2023 academic year, Bosnia and Herzegovina has 1,738 primary schools, around 312 secondary schools, and 38 licensed higher education institutions, both private and public.
Secondary education
Secondary education offers various opportunities, including general education (gymnasiums), vocational education, artistic, and religious education. General secondary
education lasts for four years, while vocational secondary education, provided through technical and vocational schools, lasts for three or four years.
A secondary vocational qualification is obtained upon successful completion of secondary
education lasting three or four years in a secondary school, which can be an independent
institution or part of a school or secondary school center. This qualification can be obtained in different types of institutions, such as gymnasiums, vocational schools for education and training (art schools, technical schools, vocational schools), artistic and religious schools, as well as schools for students with developmental difficulties.
In the 2022/2023 school year, a total of 107,936 students enrolled in 312 secondary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Higher education
Higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina is organized into three cycles:
- The first cycle leads to the academic title of a completed graduate study, which is obtained after a minimum of three and a maximum of four years of regular study and is valued at a minimum of 180 or 240 ECTS credits. An exception is made for studies in the field of medical sciences, which are valued at 360 ECTS credits.
- The second cycle leads to the academic title of master or equivalent, obtained after completing a graduate study, lasts one or two years, and is valued at 60 or 120 ECTS credits.
- The third cycle leads to the academic title of doctor or equivalent, lasts three years, and is valued at 180 ECTS credits.
Higher education institutions must be accredited to operate and provide diplomas and certificates to their participants.
In the 2022/2023 academic year, during the winter semester, 73,250 students were enrolled in the first cycle of higher education studies, including short cycles and integrated studies. Out of this number, 64,064 students were enrolled in all years of study, while 9,186 students were graduates.
Higher education institutions are funded in accordance with laws and regulations by the
authorities of Republika Srpska or the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Higher education activities are governed by the laws of Republika Srpska or the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the entity level, while the Ministry of Civil Affairs at the state level coordinates higher education activities between the two entities.
This article was developed based on the project’s research document “Analysis and map of existing non-formal educational curriculums of VET programs in participating countries”.
If you want to learn more about the research, and read the full document, click here.