An overview of what is considered an adult education programme in Croatia is given by the 2007 Adult Education Act. These are adult vocational education programmes and programmes of strengthening entrepreneurial competences. Adult education includes programmes to strengthen basic skills and literacy (linguistic, mathematical and digital skills). Integral parts of adult education are programmes for creative expression, civic education and environmental education. 

Formal and non-formal education programmes are being implemented in Croatia. The importance of informal and self-directed adult learning is recognised. According to the Adult Education Act (Article 3)

“Formal adult education includes:

• primary adult education,
• secondary adult education; secondary general education programmes; secondary vocational education programmes; lower vocational education programmes, retraining, training and professional development;
• higher education.”

Most of the formal education programmes are focused on vocational education and training. General adult education is less represented and refers mostly to primary adult education and secondary general education programmes.

Non-formal adult education includes programmes aimed at training adults for work, various social activities and personal development. Higher education programmes are not part of the adult education system but are regulated within the higher education system.

According to the 2016 Adult Education Survey, the lowest number of adults participates in formal adult education (3.6%) and slightly more in non-formal education programmes (28.3%). As many as 91.2% of respondents answered that they were learning informally in some way. According to the survey conducted for the Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education, about 5.4% of adults participated in formal programmes in the past year. 

Adult education programmes for basic skills, secondary education programmes, training and professional development programmes and non-formal education programmes are publicly funded. Some of these programmes are free of charge to all learners in Croatia. The second group of programmes is occasionally financed under public procurement calls, national and EU projects. The rest is paid for by the learners themselves. According to data from the Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education in 2020, 89.6% of adult learners paid their own retraining, while 87% paid for secondary vocational education.

In Croatia, the adult education system includes programmes from level 1 to level 5 of the European Qualifications Framework. This corresponds to the levels of the Croatian Qualifications Framework according to the Croatian Qualifications Framework Act. 

The majority of persons over 24 years of age attended professional study or college and graduate or integrated professional study, and a smaller number of learners attended programmes that belong to the Croatian adult education system. This is shown by the survey conducted by the Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education.   

Table 1. Attending individual formal education programmes

The Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education , 2017, p. 21

According to the same survey conducted by the Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education, the largest number of institutions offers only one adult education programme (15.9%), or four adult education programmes (14.2%). Two surveyed institutions offer more than 100 adult education programmes.

The Ministry of Science and Education  regulates the following programmes within the adult education system:

• primary adult education programme
• secondary general education programmes
• secondary vocational education programmes
• lower vocational education programmes
• retraining programmes
• training programmes
• professional development programmes 
• foreign language learning programmes.

According to the mentioned research conducted by the Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education, the majority of learners participate in training programmes. According to the Andragogy Joint Register of Programmes in 2020, 68.3% of adults participated in training programmes, 8% in retraining programmes, 5% in professional development programmes and 6.6% in foreign language programmes.

At the end of the adult education programme, certificates may be issued by primary and secondary schools, foreign language schools and other institutions authorised by the Ministry of Science and Education for carrying out adult education activities and issuing certificates. The certificate contains data on the level of education, the title and duration of the training programme and the content of the curriculum. The foreign language programme certificate also contains the designation of the completed level (A1 to C2).

A part of the vocational education programme for crafts is adopted by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development (Lifelong Learning Programme for Trades and Crafts). These programmes are implemented by the Chamber of Trades and Crafts. The Croatian language, history and culture programmes for persons granted asylum and persons under subsidiary protection , are adopted by the Ministry of Science and Education in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior. Implementation is organised in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior.

Basic skills strengthening programmes

The Croatian education system is based on the fact that basic knowledge and skills are acquired in primary school. In addition, there are programmes for the development of basic skills for persons who are functionally illiterate or Croatian is not their native language.

Primary adult education

Primary adult education is conducted in accordance with the prescribed curriculum for primary adult education. The basic goal is to reduce the number of persons without completed primary education and to increase literacy as the shortest route to obtaining the first occupation. The main tasks are to compensate for the educational backlogs of adults created by educational shortcomings in youth and to enable further education.

Drafting and implementation of the programme are connected with the project of the Government of the Republic of Croatia named For a Literate Croatia: a Path to a Desirable Future – a Decade of Literacy in Croatia 2003 –2012. The project was launched in accordance with the United Nations Resolution on the decades of literacy in the period 2003–2012. In 2003, the Curriculum for Primary Adult Education was adopted and it is still being implemented in 2021.  The model of primary education and its funding from the Decade of Literacy have been maintained.

The project was implemented under the leadership and monitoring of the Ministry of Science and Education, and the actors were state administration offices in counties and adult education institutions authorised to implement the primary adult education programme. Learners who complete primary education in this way are also provided with training that enables them to perform simple tasks in an occupation, in order to facilitate employment.

In accordance with the model adopted in the project For a Literate Croatia: a Path to a Desirable Future – a Decade of Literacy in Croatia 2003–2012, every year, in the state budget, funds are allocated for financing learners of the primary adult education programme. For the learners, the completion of primary education is free of charge (prior to this project, adult learners paid for primary education). Such a model was also included in the 2007 Adult Education Act.

The curriculum for primary adult education has six educational periods, and each educational period lasts eighteen weeks. The first and second educational periods correspond to the level of full-time education from grade I to IV of the primary school and are intended for the education of learners who did not complete four grades of primary school. In total, it lasts 180 hours.  Educational periods 3, 4, 5 and 6 correspond to the level of full-time education from grade V to VIII and are intended for the education of learners who dropped out of primary education between the fourth and eighth grades. In total, they last 364 hours. The elective programmes last an additional 150 hours. These are different job training programmes and first, less demanding occupation in the 5th and 6th educational periods.

Teaching can be conducted in the form of regular classes, as a consultation-instructional or correspondence-consultation form of education. Learners must attend at least 50% of the regular classes. 

A consultation-instructional form of education is intended for learners who are not able to attend regular classes. In this form of education, at least 60% of classes provided for in the curriculum should be realised. The consultations emphasise those parts of the programme which are difficult for the learners to master independently, that is, studying from textbooks or other literature sources. 

The correspondence-consultation form of education is implemented through shorter common or individual consultations. The rest of the programme is conducted remotely     (through didactically prepared textbooks and tasks).

At the end of the primary school education programme, a certificate is issued that has the same value as the certificate of the full-time primary school.  It covers level 1 of the Croatian Qualifications Framework or EQF, levels 2 and 3 of ISCED.

At the beginning of the school year 2019/2020 , 311 learners were included in primary adult education. Among them, 12 attended those programmes in primary schools and the rest in other institutions (mostly open universities). 

The curriculum for the development of basic adult skills, strengthening digital, mathematical and reading literacy

The curriculum for the development of basic adult skills, strengthening digital, mathematical and reading literacy was prepared in 2019. The curriculum is part of the implementation of the Council Resolution on a renewed European agenda for adult learning (2011) and the Council of the European Union Recommendation on Upskilling Pathways: New Opportunities for Adults (2016). By January 2021, the implementation has not yet started. 

The main objective of this education programme is to solve the problem of insufficient functional literacy of adults. It is intended for persons whose reading, mathematical and digital skills are at a low level, typically below the first level according to the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). The development of the curriculum and its implementation is led by the Ministry of Science and Education in cooperation with the Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education and the Education and Teacher Training Agency.

The curriculum will be implemented mainly through integration into programmes for the acquisition of basic vocational competences within the framework of the adult training programme. If necessary, it can fit into other education programmes (professional development programmes). It will be implemented by institutions accredited for adult training and professional development programmes. The costs of these programmes will be covered by the costs of training or professional development in which they are incorporated. This will be paid by companies, local self-government units, the state budget or the learners themselves.

The total number of hours required for the implementation of the overall curriculum is 100 hours. It depends on the learners and education group which part of the curriculum and in which scope it will be implemented. This depends on their previous knowledge, which is assessed at the beginning of the education programme. It is possible to implement and organise the activities in a modular manner, depending on the needs of the learners. Three modules refer to three related skills: reading, mathematical and digital skills.

At the end of the implementation of this education programme, the learner receives a training or professional development programme certificate which incorporates basic skills modules. This means that there is no special formal certificate that would apply only to these modules. In addition to the certificate, descriptions of acquired skills may be recorded.

The Croatian language programme for asylum seekers, persons granted asylum and foreigners under subsidiary protection older than 15 years

The Croatian language programme for asylum seekers, persons granted asylum and foreigners under subsidiary protection older than 15 years for access to the secondary education system and adult education  was adopted in 2012 by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports in agreement with the Ministry of the Interior. The main target group are asylum seekers, persons granted asylum and foreigners under subsidiary protection older than 15. The expected duration of the programme is from four to nine months. The minimum total number of hours is 280, which means at least 30 hours per month for the nine-month programme. 

The completion of the programme enables the most basic communication in the Croatian language. It corresponds roughly to level A1.0 under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This programme enables learners to acquire basic knowledge of the language so that they can continue their education in Croatia.

The Croatian language, history and culture programme for persons granted asylum and foreigners under subsidiary protection

The Croatian language, history and culture programme for persons granted asylum and foreigners under subsidiary protection for inclusion in Croatian society was adopted in 2014 by the Minister of Science, Education and Sports. The duration is four to nine months, depending on the number of hours per week, but also on other circumstances. The minimum total number of hours is 280, which means at least 30 hours per month for the nine-month programme.

This programme defines the conditions for persons who may implement this programme. These are teachers who qualify for Croatian language instruction in primary and secondary schools.

According to the Act on International and Temporary Protection,  persons granted asylum and foreigners under subsidiary protection are obliged to attend a course on the Croatian language, history and culture for inclusion in Croatian society.

Course fees are paid from the state budget of the Republic of Croatia. In case of failure to attend the course, the person granted asylum and foreigner under subsidiary protection should compensate for the costs of the course. Financing is also provided through the project of integration of persons granted asylum and foreigners under subsidiary protection implemented by the Ministry of Science and Education. The project is financed by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).

Since the end of 2019, Croatian courses have been conducted for persons granted asylum and persons under subsidiary protection under this programme. The programme is financed from the state budget. The implementation facilities are selected under the public procurement procedure. The tender was granted to the Open University in Zagreb. Instruction is conducted in 41 groups in 21 towns in all regions of Croatia.

Programmes for the acquisition of qualifications for adult learners

Programmes for the acquisition of qualifications implemented in adult education are secondary general education programmes, secondary vocational education programmes, lower vocational education programmes and retraining programmes.

Secondary general education programmes, secondary vocational education programmes and lower vocational education programmes are conducted on the basis of programmes prescribed for full-time education. Programmes are divided into sectors as well as for full-time vocational education. In addition to vocational education, a secondary general school programme for adults (grammar school) is also implemented. 

The retraining programme is implemented on the basis of the programmes prescribed for full-time education, for students with acquired vocational qualifications for one occupation. They are implemented in order to obtain vocational qualifications of the same educational level for a new occupation. For each learner, a part of the programme already successfully completed by the learner and a part of the programme that still requires completion is defined. The number of hours for each course of the retraining programme cannot be lower than 50% of the number of hours prescribed in the full-time education curriculum.

Programmes are adopted by the Ministry of Science and Education. They are implemented by institutions that meet the criteria of the Ordinance on Standards and Regulations as well as Methods and Procedures for Determining the Fulfilment of Requirements in Adult Education Institutions from 2008. The Ordinance determines the spatial, personnel and material conditions for the implementation of the programme. 

The programmes are conducted in full-time, consultation-instructional, correspondence-consultation and multimedia instruction. The number of group consultations must not be less than two-thirds of the total number of hours in consultation-instructional or 10% of instruction in correspondence-consultation instruction. Multimedia instruction refers to the use of computers and educational materials that are stored in digital format and enable knowledge acquisition using the Internet.

Programmes for acquiring qualifications are usually paid by the learners themselves. The costs of implementing the programme may be part of projects under the European Social Fund or calls launched by local and national authorities. In that case, they are free for the learners. Usually, these learners are unemployed or belong to disadvantaged groups (Roma, persons with disabilities, long-term unemployed).

The requirement for participation in these programmes is that the learners are fifteen years old. Other requirements set by a particular programme must also be fulfilled. These are mostly medical conditions and medical documentation.

At the end of the programme, learners receive a certificate that has the same value as a certificate of full-time education, class certificates, certificate of final work (in adult vocational education) and certificate of completion. Qualifications acquired correspond to secondary schools lasting three and four years, but also to those lasting less than three years. Therefore, there is a possibility to acquire qualification level 3 of the CROQF (60 ECVET), level 4.1. CROQF (180 ECVET) or level 4.2. HKO (240 ECVET).

The final graduation exam can be taken by all learners who have completed the four-year secondary school education. There is no difference in the testing procedure compared to full-time education.

A special programme for acquiring qualifications is the preparation and completion of a Master Craftsman Exam. It is regulated by the Crafts Act and the Ordinance on the Procedure and Manner of Taking Master Craftsman Exam, and the Exam on Professional Qualifications (OG 88/02). They are conducted by the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts.

By taking the Master Craftsman Exam, one acquires level 5 of education, according to the Croatian Qualifications Framework, which is related to the same level of education within the European Qualifications Framework. After passing the Master Craftsman Exam, a Master Craftsman Certificate is obtained, which is a public document. 

Master Craftsman Exam can be taken by persons who have some form of secondary education and certain working experience in the profession for which they want to pass the exam. This experience can be from 1 to 3 years, depending on previous education. The Master Craftsman Exam programme is adopted by the minister responsible for crafts after the previously obtained opinion of the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts. The costs of taking the exam on professional qualifications and the Master Craftsman Exam are covered by the learner himself or the natural and legal person who refers the learner to the exam. Educational preparations for the Master Craftsman Exam are recommended, but not mandatory. Therefore, these exams could be included in the examination of knowledge previously acquired through education, work experience and independent preparation of the learners.

In 2019, 1179 persons passed the Master Craftsman Exams. 

Programmes facilitating the transition to the labour market

Formal adult education programmes aimed primarily at labour market training are training and professional development programmes.

Training programmes provide the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to perform the simpler tasks of the first degree of complexity according to the National Classification of Occupations. Completion of primary school is sufficient to enrol in most training programmes. Therefore, the project For Croatian literacy (described in this chapter) is related to primary adult education and training until the first occupation.  

As a rule, the training programme may not last less than 120 training sessions. Regarding the training for one or fewer work operations acquired predominantly by individual teaching activities, this can last at least 60 training sessions.

Professional development programmes for learners with completed secondary education complement and expand the acquired professional knowledge due to labour market requirements and in order to acquire knowledge about new techniques and technologies and their application.

The programme cannot last less than 150 training sessions. For operations with a higher degree of complexity, the programme cannot last less than 500 hours. Most of these programmes should be conducted as exercises and practical instruction, and a smaller part as theoretical instruction. Without attending practical classes and exercises, the knowledge acquired can be practically checked before the three-member committee of the institution. In this way, these programmes include verification and recognition of previously acquired knowledge and skills.

Training and professional development programmes are adopted by the adult education institution. They are developed according to the methodology adopted by the Agency for Adult Education. The programmes must meet the labour market needs. The Agency for Adult Education gives its opinion on the programme. On the basis of this opinion, the programme is approved by the Ministry of Science and Education. By implementing the Croatian Qualifications Framework, training and professional development programmes should comply with occupational standards, qualifications standards and learning outcomes in the qualifications framework.

Training and professional development programmes are implemented by adult education institutions. They must meet the spatial, personnel and material conditions in accordance with the programme they are implementing.

At the end of the programme, certificates of professional development and training are issued as a public document.

In the total number of learners in formal adult education programmes, more than half of them participate in training and professional development programmes.

Measures of the Croatian Employment Service are being implemented to encourage the education of unemployed and employed persons. Up to 70% of professional development costs can be covered. The measures are intended for unemployed or employed persons who need new competences to maintain their jobs or get new employment. Individual measures may be used by individuals, employers or adult education institutions. This depends on the type of measure. Depending on the measure, training can be conducted in the workplace and adult education institutions.

Implementing non-vocational education for personal development and community service

According to the Adult Education Act (2007), one of the objectives of adult education is to exercise the right to free development of personality. These are non-formal programmes related to “learning processes aimed at training adults for work, various social activities and personal development.”(Articles 1 and 3)   The Strategy for Education, Science and Technology lists a series of non-formal programmes related to cultural expression, social inclusion (volunteer, environmental, political and similar activism, adoption and application of democratic values and attitudes), creative and artistic evaluation and expression, development of basic economic, financial and media literacy.

Most of these programmes do not have continuous public support. Possible funding comes through applying for calls launched by local or regional authorities or through EU projects (European Social Fund, Erasmus Programme). The donations most often finance programmes lasting from 1 to 3 years.

Programmes of creative workshops, sociocultural animation and strengthening social skills are traditionally implemented by cultural centres. For these programmes, cultural centres can receive support from local budgets on the basis of annual programmes. Most courses are conducted per one-semester cycle (usually 30–60 hours). For programmes that do not receive support from local authorities, the costs of these programmes are covered by the learners themselves, but it is possible that the costs of employees and space maintenance are covered by the local authorities. The        European Social Fund and the Ministry of Culture co-finance some programmes for special target groups (older people, young people, disadvantaged persons). 

Programmes of the University for the Third Age are non-formal education programmes for the elderly. They are systematically implemented in several institutions in Croatia (Open University Zagreb and Rijeka). The largest University for the Third Age is in the Open University Zagreb. These programmes are organised according to semesters and usually last for 32 hours in one semester. The programmes are grouped into creative workshops, programmes with cultural and historical themes, programmes for strengthening psychophysical health, programmes for learning foreign languages and the basics of computer science. The programmes are fully paid for by the learners. Annual aid is occasionally received from the city budget only for certain individual activities (newsletter, panel). Erasmus programme projects and international cooperation are used to develop new programmes. Until 2020, 800–1000 learners and elderly learners participated in the programmes annually.     A significant part of non-formal programmes relate to civic education, sustainable development, gender equality and respect for human rights. These programmes are mainly implemented by NGOs. Most of them are gathered in the GOOD initiative that promotes civic education. Currently, 54 organisations are members of this network. The type, manner of organisation, duration and financing are different. 

The School of Sustainability has been developed and implemented by the Green Action. . This school trains activists and strengthens other civil society organisations. The programmes last from 1 to 7 days. They were organised with the support of the National Foundation for Civil Society Development.

Peace Studies are organised by the Centre for Peace Studies. It is a programme of non-formal education of the Centre for Peace Studies that trains, motivates, empowers and connects people to work on social change.  During 22 years, 700 participants attended this programme. The programme includes 100 hours of lectures, workshops and practical work. Learners pay for their studies between 1000 and 1500 kuna. 

The education programmes of the Centre for Women's Studies refer to feminist education. The programme lasts for one or two semesters and includes thirty learners. Since 1995, 700 learners have completed the programme. For the one-semester programme, the learners contribute 400 HRK with the possibility to volunteer for a part of the amount. 

In order to get funds to organise these programmes, they apply to public calls.  The most regular calls are announced by the National Foundation for Civil Society Development. Occasionally, calls from the European Social Fund are announced.

After the completion of the course, certificates or similar documents that do not hold the importance of a public document may be issued. 

Other types of adult programmes implemented with public support

Professional training and development of civil servants. All civil servants must participate in organised training programmes to which they are referred by the national authority or have been granted the attendance of particular education programmes. This education is regulated by the Decree on Forms, Modalities and Conditions for Training and Education of Civil Servants.  The programmes are financed from the state budget.

The programmes are in the areas of public administration, EU programmes and public policies. There are a series of special programmes. These are often programmes for strengthening IT competencies, respect for human rights, ethical dimensions of action. The training of officers who disseminate knowledge (train the trainer) is also important.

Programmes may be common and specific. Joint training programmes are intended for all civil servants, regardless of the body in which they are employed. Special programmes are intended exclusively for civil servants employed by the same state body. Programmes have very different durations (from 1 to 7 days).

Training programmes are typically organised by the State School for Public Administration and the Department for State Exam, professional training and development at the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration. Education is conducted on the basis of the Training Plan for Civil Servants, adopted annually by the Government of the Republic of Croatia at the proposal of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration. Special programmes can be organised independently by the competent state administration bodies in addition to the State School for Public Administration.

After the completion of the programme, no public document is issued, but the knowledge acquired by the learners for conducting administrative procedures is recorded.

In 2019, the school organised the implementation of 566 workshops for 10 440 participants. 

Besides this programme and programmes within the competence of the Ministry of Education and Science, there are special programmes regulated by other ministries. These programmes are publicly verified, but the certificate of completion is not issued by the Ministry of Education and Science. For example, authorisation to institutions for the education on sustainable use of pesticides is granted by the Ministry of Agriculture. The programme of Category C boat operator is implemented strictly according to the programme stipulated by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure implemented by authorised maritime training schools.  These programmes can be financed by public funds if they are part of some projects or belong to shortage occupations.

References:

• Adult Education Act (OG 17/07, 107/07, 24/10); https://www.zakon.hr/z/384/Zakon-o-obrazovanju-odraslih
• Croatian Bureau of Statistics (2017). Adult Education Survey 2016. https://www.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/publication/2017/08-01-13_01_2017.htms
• Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education (2017).   Adult education in Croatia in 2017 Survey results. https://epale.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/asoo_istrazivanje.pdf 
• Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education (2020). Data from the Andragogical Joint Register of Programmes
• Croatian Qualifications Framework Act (OG 22/13, 41/16, 64/18, 47/20) https://www.zakon.hr/z/566/Zakon-o-Hrvatskom-kvalifikacijskom-okviru
• Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education (2017).  Adult education in Croatia in 2017 Survey results.
• Ministry of Science and Education (2020). Adult education programmes. https://mzo.gov.hr/istaknute-teme/odgoj-i-obrazovanje/obrazovanje-odraslih/programi-obrazovanja-odraslih/580
• Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and   Adult Education Act (OG 17/07, 107/07, 24/10); https://www.zakon.hr/z/384/Zakon-o-obrazovanju-odraslih
• Croatian Bureau of Statistics (2017). Adult Education Survey 2016. https://www.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/publication/2017/08-01-13_01_2017.htms
• Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education (2017).   Adult education in Croatia in 2017 Survey results. https://epale.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/asoo_istrazivanje.pdf 
• Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education (2020). Data from the Andragogical Joint Register of Programmes
• Croatian Qualifications Framework Act (OG 22/13, 41/16, 64/18, 47/20) https://www.zakon.hr/z/566/Zakon-o-Hrvatskom-kvalifikacijskom-okviruAgency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education (2017).  Adult education in Croatia in 2017 Survey results.
• Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development(2020). The Lifelong Learning Programme for Trades and Crafts for 2020. https://gospodarstvo.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/dokumenti/Program%20Cjelo%C5%BEivotno%20obrazovanje%20za%202020.%20godinu.pdf
• Ministry of Science and Education (2014) Decision on Croatian language, history and culture programmes for persons granted asylum and persons under subsidiary protection for inclusion in Croatian society https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2009_10_129_3178.html
• Ministry of Science and Education(2003) Curriculum for Primary Adult Education. https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2003_08_136_2001.html
• Ministry of Science and Education (2021). Financing Primary Adult Education. https://mzo.gov.hr/istaknute-themes/education/education-adults/financing-primary-education-adults/581
• Ministry of Science and Education (2003) Curriculum for Primary Adult Education. 
• Ordinance on Public Documents in Adult Education (NN  129/2008, 50/2010, 61/2014). https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2014_05_61_1152.html
• Croatian Bureau of Statistics (2017) Primary schools end of the school year 2018/2019 and the beginning of the school year 2019/2020 https://www.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/publication/2020/08-01-02_01_2020.htm 
• Ministry of Science and Education ((2012). Croatian language programme for asylum seekers, persons granted asylum and foreigners under subsidiary protection older than 15 years for access to the secondary education system and adult education. https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2012_09_100_2220.html