- Published : 06.06.2025.
Croatia ready for OECD accession in the area of education and skills
An Accession Seminar, as the final step in Croatia's accession process to the OECD in the field of education and skills, was held on 6 June 2025 at the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, on the topic of "Education and training pathways".
The seminar brought together key stakeholders from the education system, senior OECD representatives and other interested OECD member countries.This event has concluded Croatia's accession process to the OECD in the field of education, which included a series of very demanding and detailed assessments, activities and analyses. Technical accession reviews began with an assessment of Croatia's readiness and ability to implement OECD legal instruments under the jurisdiction of the Education Policy Committee (as part of the Initial Memorandum) and a self-assessment of education and skills policies and practices by completing a comprehensive questionnaire.
The self-assessment questionnaire was one of the main sources of information for the technical review, which was followed by a technical mission of the OECD Education Policy Committee in December 2023. During the week-long mission, a series of meetings were held with representatives of ministries, central state offices, agencies, the parliamentary committee, institutes, teacher education faculties, trade unions, associations, advisory bodies and international organizations. Visits were also organized to a kindergarten, primary and secondary school, university, and city authorities.
Based on established facts and additional information provided on topics of interest as well as the presentation of the Croatian education system and key stakeholders, the OECD prepared the Accession Review of Croatia in the Field of Education and Skills, which was also presented publicly today.
At the meeting of the Education Policy Committee held in November 2024 in Paris, a discussion was held on Croatia's accession to the OECD in the field of education and skills. On this occasion, Minister Radovan Fuchs gave a presentation of the Croatian education system and referred to current strategic initiatives and reforms. The OECD confirmed the alignment of Croatian policies in the field of education and skills with the policies of OECD member countries. It also recognized Croatia's efforts to strengthen education and skills and keep pace with European and global best practices, with the aim of further international networking and strengthening the national education system.
Following this, the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth received an official letter of approval from the Chair of the Education Policy Committee expressing satisfaction with Croatia’s progress in the field of education and skills. The letter highlighted a series of positive reform measures undertaken to improve the quality, equality and governance of the education system. Croatia's policy efforts were particularly aimed at increasing access to early childhood education and care, introducing full-day and single-shift classes for all students, establishing a new modular system of vocational education and training, increasing the tertiary education completion rate, as well as supporting lifelong learning.
In addition, the Committee also provided recommendations for further improvement of the system, focusing on the quality of programmes and outcomes, equal opportunities and access to education, along with better governance.
Meanwhile, as part of this multi-annual process, the Ministry also participated in data collection for the purpose of publishing ‘Education at a Glance’, a compendium of internationally harmonized indicators on education systems in OECD countries and partners, for which a public launch was organized. The Ministry also hosted a series of OECD conferences and working group meetings, including the organization of the INES working group meeting in October 2023 in Zagreb, Education Policy Reform Dialogues in November 2024 in Zagreb, as well as the PISA Governing Board meeting and PISA research conference in November 2024 in Dubrovnik.
Therefore, the organization of the Accession Seminar represents the final step and concludes the successful and comprehensive process of Croatia's accession to the OECD in the field of education and skills. As part of the theme "Education and training pathways", two panels were organized focusing on the reform of vocational education and training and higher education, and taking into account the Accession Review of Croatia in the Field of Education and Skills and the recommendations provided.
Minister Fuchs stated on that occasion: "This seminar is not only a moment of reflection but also a moment of affirmation - of our shared values, our mutual aspirations, and our commitment to a future where education empowers every learner and strengthens every society. As we move forward with the reforms of our education system, we look to the OECD not only as an organization but as a community of shared practice and mutual learning."