Пошаговая инструкция по записи ребёнка в государственную школу Сербии: документы, сроки, уровни классов и помощь для несербоговорящих. Данные актуальны на 2024 год.
TL;DR
Enrolling a child in a Serbian school starts in August. You will need: a birth certificate with an apostille and translation, a medical card, a vaccination certificate, and the parent's PIB. The school is chosen based on the place of residence, and for children who do not speak Serbian, tests or adaptation classes may be required.
State schools (primary and secondary) are free for children with disabilities with permanent or temporary residence. Enrollment is done through the school assigned to your neighborhood. According to the Ministry of Education, in 2023, there were 3,800 state schools in Serbia, about 15% of which offered programs for migrants and refugees.
The Law on the Fundamentals of the Education and Upbringing System (Article 10) requires parents to have a complete package of documents; without it, the child will not be enrolled, even if there are places available. Particular attention is paid to vaccinations - without a certificate, the school will not accept the child (Decree on Immunization, 2022).
For children who do not speak Serbian, schools may offer preparatory groups, language proficiency testing, or individual learning plans at the request of parents.
On the website of the Ministry of Education or in the municipal department, find the school whose address matches your place of residence. Clarify if they accept children with disabilities in the current academic year; some schools have limited places.
Make copies of all papers, except for the original birth certificate and apostille. Translate them into Serbian by a certified translator - a list of translators can be requested from the school or embassy.
Call or write to the school in advance - in August, the queue can be long. According to a survey of 50 schools in August 2023, the average waiting time for an appointment was 3-7 days. Clarify if the child's personal presence is required (usually for children over 6 years old).
The school will check the completeness and conduct an interview with the child if they do not speak Serbian. If the language level is insufficient, they may offer a preparatory course or re-testing after a month.
After verification, the school will issue a confirmation or refusal with a reason. If refused, contact the municipal education department for explanations.
After enrollment, the school will send the child for a mandatory examination, including a vaccination check. Without this, the child will not be allowed to attend classes.
School uniforms and textbooks are paid for by parents. The average cost of uniforms is 5,000-12,000 RSD (40-100 EUR). Textbooks can be bought at school or ordered online, for example, on Bookland.
For all children
For children over 6 years old
For children who do not speak Serbian
| Stage | Term | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Collecting documents | 2-4 weeks | 5,000-15,000 RSD (translation, copies, apostille) |
| Enrollment in school | August (peak) | Free |
| Medical examination | 1-2 weeks after enrollment | 2,000-5,000 RSD (depending on the clinic) |
| School uniforms and textbooks | September | 5,000-12,000 RSD |
Enrollment starts on August 1st and ends on September 15th (exact dates check with the school). If the child did not make it in August, the school may offer to wait until next year or contact the municipal education department.
Can I enroll a child without a parent's PIB?
No. PIB is mandatory for all foreigners living in Serbia. Without it, the school will not be able to formalize enrollment. PIB is issued in local citizen service centers (Centri za društvene dela).
What if the child does not speak Serbian?
The school may offer a preparatory course (1-3 months), language proficiency testing, or an individual learning plan for the first time.
Do I need to take exams during enrollment?
For children under 6 years old, there are no exams. For children aged 6-14, an interview in language or mathematics may be conducted, depending on age.
Can I choose a school not based on my place of residence?
Theoretically, yes, but in practice, places in other schools are often unavailable. For clarification, contact the municipal education department.
What to do if the school refuses?
The refusal must be formalized in writing. You can contact the education department (Odeljenje za obrazovanje) for explanations or submit an appeal within 14 days.