Foundations of society of equal rights are being laid and built through education, science, culture and sports

The implementation of systemic changes, which will enable the creation of conditions for depoliticization, interdepartmental synergy and improvement of the work is the mission of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports. In the first 100 days, certain foundations were laid on which the ministry's policy will be built, said Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Vesna Bratić within the Government's video campaign "Potpisujem" (I sign) on the first 100 days of work.

As a knowledge-based society, as she explained, the education system is being improved in order to better respond to the needs of the labor market, create a competitive staff and a better position of the Montenegrin education system in the international framework.

"We have created a comprehensive, precise and realistic work plan. Personnel changes have been initiated in educational institutions in order to depoliticize the management process. The goal is for schools to be managed by the most capable, most responsible, most dedicated educators, whose priority is teaching and learning, and not political engagement," said Bratić.

"Special attention is paid to digitalization and digital technologies. Cooperation has been established with UNDP and UNICEF regarding the electronic enrollment of students at universities in Montenegro. A working group has been formed to draft a new Law on Higher Education, which will enable the democratization of decision-making in higher education institutions," said Bratić.

In order to make the nostrification process more prudent, a proposal of the Draft Law on amendments to the Law on recognition of foreign educational certificates and qualifications equalization was developed, as she explained.

Bratić pointed out that special attention is paid to science and young people.

"We have started negotiations with the representatives of the European Commission on signing the contract for the Horizon Europe programme, which will provide and precisely trace the path of investing in science in the period from 2021 to 2027. The Council for Scientific Research has been formed, and one of its first activities will be the mapping of the young scientific community in the diaspora. Unambiguous and strong support was provided to the International Scientific Project SEEIIST aimed at building a center for the treatment of cancer in Southeast Europe," said Bratić.

Having in mind that cultural goods are recognised as an important factor of national identity and that they represent a long-term resource for sustainable development, she said that the development of a programme for the protection and preservation of cultural goods is planned.

"Intensive work is being done on the development of the National Programme for the Development of Culture 2021-2025. The signing of the Agreement between the Government of Montenegro and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in the field of culture, education, science, sports and youth is in progress," said Bratić.

As she said, full attention is paid to sports "because we want it to be a branch of the Ministry that will strongly contribute to the healthy development of children and youth".

She added that priority programme activities in the field of sports for this year have been defined.

"Deeply aware that all our citizens expect changes, we have subordinated all activities to the establishment of a system that will enable these changes, so that we can all build a society of equal rights, a society based on justice, truth, honesty and respect. Montenegrin citizens deserve such a society, and its foundations are being laid and wisely built through education, science, culture and sports," said Bratić.