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Summary of "Education and Skills in Croatia"

Core Content

This document, Education and Skills in Croatia, is part of the OECD's Reviews of National Policies for Education series. It evaluates Croatia's education and skills system, focusing on how it can build on recent progress to improve quality, equity, and governance in support of sustainable and inclusive growth. The report is prepared to assist the OECD Education Policy Committee in its review of Croatia's accession to the OECD and offers recommendations to strengthen the system across all levels of education and lifelong learning.

Main Features of the Education System in Croatia

• School Completion: Near universal, with the lowest early school leaving rates in the EU.
• Tertiary Education: Attainment is increasing and converging with the OECD average, though the overall population remains clustered in lower and upper secondary education.
• Learning Outcomes: Stable in international assessments (e.g., PISA), but Croatia lags in mathematics compared to other OECD countries.
• Equity Gaps: Persistent disparities in access and learning outcomes, especially for disadvantaged and rural learners.
• Vocational Education: Dominates at the upper secondary level, but postsecondary education remains heavily academic, limiting options for vocational students.

Key Challenges

• Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC): Access is limited, especially for low-income and rural families. Enrolment rates are below OECD and EU averages.
• Foundational Skills: Many students, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, struggle with basic competencies.
• School-to-Work Transition: Slow for graduates despite high vocational enrolment.
• Funding and Governance: Public spending on education is rising but remains below the OECD average. Governance structures are complex and inter-ministerial coordination is weak.
• Skills Shortages: A shrinking population and low productivity are exacerbating skills shortages and the need for a more flexible and responsive skills system.

Reform Efforts

• Whole-Day Schooling: Aimed at improving learning outcomes and expanding opportunities for all learners.
• Competence-Based Curriculum: Designed to enhance foundational learning and align education with real-world skills.
• Performance-Based Funding: Introduced in tertiary education to improve relevance and quality.
• Adult Learning Voucher Scheme: Intended to support adult participation in education and training.

Recommendations

Quality of Programmes and Outcomes

• Enhance the professional agency of teachers and school leaders.
• Implement more flexible and modular models in upper secondary vocational education and training (VET).
• Expand professionally oriented "mid-level" programmes (ISCED 4 and 5) to better align with labour market needs.
• Strengthen the use of data and assessments to inform policy and improve outcomes.

Equality of Opportunities and Access

• Increase access to ECEC, particularly for disadvantaged and rural children.
• Address gender gaps in the labour market by promoting equal opportunities for men and women.
• Support early childhood education for children from low-income families through targeted policies and funding.
• Ensure equitable distribution of educational resources across regions and social groups.

Good Governance

• Improve inter-ministerial coordination to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Strengthen governance structures to support reform implementation.
• Develop a more integrated and coherent skills policy framework.
• Enhance transparency and accountability in the education system.

Funding and Efficiency

• Increase public spending on education to meet OECD standards.
• Improve the efficiency of funding allocation across different education levels.
• Support the development of a dedicated skills agency to better coordinate and manage skills policies.

Conclusion

Croatia has made significant progress in its education and skills system over the past two decades. However, to ensure long-term success and sustainable growth, the country must address structural challenges in access, equity, and governance. The report highlights the importance of building on current reforms and using OECD evidence and experience to further strengthen the system. It calls for a more inclusive, flexible, and responsive approach to education and skills, particularly in ECEC, school education, tertiary education, and adult learning. The ultimate goal is to ensure that all learners can gain the skills they need to thrive and that education plays a central role in driving economic and social development.

Key Information

• OECD Accession: Croatia is in the process of joining the OECD, and this report supports the Education Policy Committee's review.
• Reforms: Whole-day schooling, flexible VET pathways, performance-based tertiary funding, and adult learning vouchers are key reform initiatives.
• Data Sources: The report draws on OECD research, international experience, and data from Croatia's education system.
• Structure: The report is divided into six chapters, each focusing on a specific aspect of the education and skills system, including ECEC, school education, tertiary education, and the skills system.
• Recommendations: The report offers concrete recommendations for improving quality, equity, and governance in Croatia's education and skills system.

Summary of Recommendations