Education and Skills in Croatia

Croatia is taking decisive action to modernise its education and skills system, aiming to raise quality, expand access, and better align learning with labour market needs. This push for change comes at a critical time, as rapid demographic shifts have led to a growing number of small schools and a surplus of school teachers, putting pressure on education funding. Gaps in early childhood education and post-school learning limit opportunities for many learners, while a lack of data on student transitions makes it harder to track their pathways through and beyond education, and improve outcomes. Ensuring that education prepares young people and adults with the skills for the evolving demands of the labour market will be essential to support Croatia's aspirations of becoming a more innovative and competitive economy.