Overview of the General Education System
Education in Croatia has a rich historical foundation, with its documented origins tracing back to the 9th century during the reign of Duke Trpimir. Early education was not compulsory and was largely under the control of the church until the 18th century. A significant shift occurred under the reign of Maria Theresa, who in 1774 issued the General School Order. This decree introduced the first structured system of compulsory elementary education in Croatia, which required all parishes to establish schools for children aged 7 to 12.

Formal legislative development continued with the 1874 Croatian Education Act. The law mandated five years of compulsory education and established Croatian as the official language of instruction. In the post-World War II era, mandatory education was extended to seven years in 1945 and eight years in 1958, which set the foundation for the modern system.

In modern Croatia, education is characterized by a commitment to accessibility and equity. It is offered free of charge during the compulsory years of schooling. This commitment is implemented by the Croatian Constitution, specifically under Articles 66 and 67, which guarantee the right to education for all individuals. As mandated, Croatian is the primary language of instruction across all levels of education.

The system is highly centralized and managed primarily by the Ministry of Science and Education (MSE). The agency is responsible for policy development, regulation, and oversight across all education levels. Several other agencies support the education system through implementation, quality assurance, and monitoring. These are the Education and Teacher Training Agency (ETTA), Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education (AVETAE), Agency for Science and Higher Education (ASHE), National Centre for External Evaluation of Education (NCEEE), Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes (AMEUP), and Croatian Academic and Research Network (CARNET).

The educational system in Croatia is structured around four fundamental levels. The first level is Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), which encompasses pre-primary education. This stage includes one mandatory preparatory year prior to the commencement of primary school and is aimed at ensuring that children are adequately prepared for their educational journey.

The second level consists of Primary Education, which spans eight years. It integrates both primary and lower secondary education, which correspond to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) levels 1 and 2. This foundational education sets the stage for following academic pursuits. Following primary education, students move to the third level, which is Secondary Education. This stage comprises upper secondary programs classified as ISCED level 3. This phase lasts three to four years, depending on the chosen educational track.

The fourth level involves higher education, which includes undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs. This level of education offers both academic and vocational pathways, catering to a diverse range of student aspirations and professional goals. Thus, the Croatian educational framework is designed to promote intellectual development and lifelong learning opportunities for its citizens.

Furthermore, Croatia promotes inclusivity by ensuring educational access for students with developmental disabilities, national minorities, gifted learners, and those in socioeconomically disadvantaged positions. The government provides necessary support mechanisms such as tailored curricula, expert guidance, and special education services to ensure successful integration and lifelong learning opportunities for all learners.

The country maintains exceptionally high literacy levels, as stated by UNESCO's report in 2021. The adult literacy rate is reported to be 99.45%, with a marginal disparity between genders; males exhibit a literacy rate of 99.69%, while females have a rate of 99.24%. Moreover, Croatia demonstrates high participation rates in education across various levels. During the 2020–2021 school year, total enrollment in secondary education reached 145,434 students.

The transition from primary to secondary education is approximately universal, with an estimated transition rate of 99.5%. This statistic, provided by the National Information System for Applications and Enrolment in Secondary Schools, illustrates the effectiveness of the educational system in facilitating student progression and maintaining high levels of educational attainment within the country.

Compulsory education in Croatia encompasses a unified eight-year structure that includes both primary and lower secondary education. This structure is classified under ISCED levels 1 and 2. It begins at age six or seven and continues until students reach age 14 or 15. This single-structure model eliminates formal separation between primary and lower secondary school and provides a continuous educational experience. In the case of children with developmental disabilities, compulsory education may be extended until the age of 21, with appropriate adjustments to meet their individual needs.

The year prior to primary school is dedicated to pre-primary education, which is mandatory for all children and marks the beginning of formal education in Croatia. The Preschool Curriculum, integrated into the National Curriculum for Early Childhood Education and Care, is implemented within kindergartens or, where necessary, in elementary schools. This ensures access to preparatory learning regardless of a child’s attendance in regular kindergarten programs.

Secondary education, although not mandatory, is nearly universal in practice. According to data from the National Information System for Applications and Enrolment in Secondary Schools, the transition rate from primary to secondary education is about 99.5%. This data indicates a high continuity rate in educational participation beyond the compulsory years. In the 2020–2021 school year, a total of 145,434 students were enrolled in secondary education. The distribution of these students reflects diverse educational pathways, with 47.6% enrolled in technical and related schools, 30.6% in grammar schools, 18.6% in industrial and craft schools, and 3.2% in secondary art schools. This data reflects an emphasis on vocational and technical education, with nearly half of all students pursuing technical tracks.

Croatia’s higher education system has undergone substantial reform since 2003 as part of its participation in the Bologna Process, which aligns its structure with the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The system is composed of various institutions, including public and private universities, polytechnics, and professional higher education schools. Each offers a combination of academic and professional degree programs.

The higher education landscape in Croatia is characterized by a diverse array of institutions, as outlined in the Register of Higher Education Institutions maintained by the Ministry of Science and Education. Croatia has a total of 117 accredited institutions that function as legal entities. This includes 10 public universities, four private universities, 72 constituents of public universities, 13 public polytechnics, and 18 private polytechnics. Each of these institutions plays an important role in the educational framework of Croatia, which contributes to the advancement of knowledge and the development of skilled professionals.

Croatian higher education programs are structured primarily into three levels of study. Undergraduate programs lead to Bachelor’s degrees, graduate programs culminate in Master’s degrees, and postgraduate programs end in Doctorates. In addition to these traditional pathways, polytechnics and schools of professional higher education provide vocational and technical study opportunities, which equip students with specialized professional titles that meet the demands of the labor market.

During the 2022–2023 academic year, the total enrollment across all higher education institutions in Croatia reached 151,827 students. This figure reflects the diverse educational offerings available and the growing interest in higher education. Of the enrolled students, 124,403 were pursuing studies within university faculties, while 24,638 were engaged in polytechnics. In addition, 2,786 students were enrolled in art academies, indicating a vibrant commitment to the arts within the higher education system.

During the 2020–2021 academic year, gender distribution in Croatian higher education revealed that 57.3% of students were women, while 42.7% were men. Additionally, 98.1% of those students were Croatian nationals, with only 1.9% being foreign students. In that year, a total of 30,875 students graduated from various higher education institutions in Croatia, including 24,744 graduates from faculties, 5,506 from polytechnics, and 625 from art academies.

The largest and most prominent universities in Croatia include the University of Zagreb, which comprises 39.3% of all enrolled university students, followed by the University of Split at 16.1%, the University of Osijek at 13.8%, the University of Rijeka at 13.9%, and the University of Zadar at 3.4%. The country also hosts Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Croatia, the only U.S.-affiliated higher education institution in Croatia, which offers internationally recognized degrees.

Accreditation and quality assurance for all higher education institutions are administered by the Agency for Science and Higher Education (ASHE) under the supervision of the Ministry of Science and Education. These agencies ensure compliance with national standards and the EHEA framework, which contribute to the comparability and recognition of Croatian qualifications across Europe.