Pre-school educationin the Republic of Croatia encompasses education and care of the children of preschool age, realized through educational, health care, nourishment and social care programs for children from six months of age until school age.

Eight-year elementary education in the Republic of Croatia is compulsory and free for all children between the ages of six and fifteen.

Secondary education enables everyone, under equal terms and according to one’s capabilities, to acquire knowledge and skills required for work or continuation of education.

Secondary schools, depending on the type of the programme they offer, are as follows:

• Gymnasiums (opće ili specijalizirane) u kojima se izvodi nastavni plan i program u najmanje četverogodišnjem trajanju.
• Vocational schoolswith duration range from one to mostly four years, exceptionally five years, by completion of which the student acquires the qualification of a certain level, volume, profile and quality, which is proved by a public document whose content and form is predefined by the minister responsible for education.
• Art schools (music, dance, drawing and other, which is determined by the type of curriculum) in which the curriculum is conducted in at least four years duration.

Higher education activities are carried out by the higher education institutions. Higher education institutions are universities, polytechnics and schools of professional higher education with all its constituents. Higher education institutions are established to carry out higher education, scientific, professional and artistic activities and other activities in accordance with the law and its statute. As part of the higher education activities, these higher education institutions organize and conduct university studies, and in accordance with the Law on Scientific Activity and Higher Education may organize and conduct professional studies.

Source:
*Ministry of Science and Education, www.mzo.hr
*Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education, www.asoo.hr