In Montenegro, there are more than 120 times as many women as men working in preschool institutions, and this trend continues in primary and secondary schools. Women also hold a majority in the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, as highlighted in the Action Plan for Achieving Gender Equality for 2025 to 2028, which was recently released on the Government portal (gov.me) and adopted by Minister Angel Jakšić Stojanović.

The document reveals that men are predominantly found in the dual education system, which tends to attract more boys.

“Currently, only 11 men are employed as educators in preschool institutions, while the number of women stands at 1,369. This disparity is likely due to the perception of teaching in Montenegro as a ‘female’ profession. The imbalance persists in primary schools, where there are 1,065 male teachers compared to 4,001 female teachers, and in secondary schools with 903 male teachers and 1,798 female teachers,” the document states.

Within the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, there are 148 employees, consisting of 108 women and 40 men.

“Women are predominant in management roles. The Ministry is led by a woman, and among senior leadership, the majority of employees are also women. Of the two state secretaries, one is male and one is female, while the ministry’s secretary is a man, and out of six general directors, five are female and one is male,” the document elaborates.

The text also mentions that the ratio of male to female students across all educational levels is relatively balanced, indicating an approximately equal representation of boys and girls.

However, within the realm of dual education in secondary vocational schools, there is a significant gender imbalance.

“The number of boys in this system is notably higher at 289, compared to only 104 girls, which means that just 26.46 percent of girls participate in dual education,” the document notes.

Looking ahead to 2025-2028, key goals include enhancing employee education in research and innovation on gender equality issues, informing students about the importance of gender equality and the implications of gender inequality, combating stereotypes surrounding male and female professions, and fostering greater participation by girls in dual education.

Additionally, there is a focus on educating students regarding the repercussions of gender-based violence, particularly violence against women, through various educational initiatives.

Efforts will also be made to adopt gender-responsive budgeting in activity planning and execution, as well as in developing policies, interventions, and methodologies that promote a gender-sensitive educational environment for optimal development and learning.

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