POLICY
Educational policies
The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Tourism and Youth and the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy are the relevant national authorities responsible for the guidance system in Serbia. The Education Development Strategy (2012), recognizes that career guidance in education should be improved, and states that until 2020 a system of career guidance and counselling should be developed and implemented at all educational levels, including adult education. This Strategy was followed by a set of changes of educational laws in 2013 that specified the role of career guidance in education.
The changes of the Law on the Foundation of Education System from 2013 (and the following amendment in 2017) introduced a provision that special attention should be given to career guidance and education of teachers, students and adults. This was followed by changes of the Law on Primary Education (2013), the Law on Secondary Education (2013) and the Law on Adult Education (2013) in order to implement career guidance programme in schools.
The latest Law on dual education (2017) also recognizes the importance of career management skills and student employability, as well as the role of schools’ teams in career guidance of students.
The Law on Adult Education (2013) recognizes the importance of guidance as well. Furthermore, the bylaw from 2015 which defines the conditions that publicly recognized providers of adult education must fulfil set the basis for the establishment of the working group for the quality of guidance services.
According to National Education Strategy (2021 – 2030) Career guidance and counselling is recognized as important system that has to become available to students in primary and secondary education, college students and adults when deciding on the choice of educational profile or training, as so as throughout the whole career path journey. According to Strategy, system support should implement standards of career guidance and counselling services to encourage individuals to lifelong learning and enable transition through different levels of qualifications and greater mobility in the labor market.
Employment policies
The Labour Law (2017) prescribes the rights to education, professional training and development, giving career guidance an important role in its implementation.The Law on Employment and Insurance in Case of Unemployment (2017) specifies the role and the activities of professional orientation and counselling in choosing profession through employment policy, measures of active employment policy, as well as concrete services provided to clients.
The National Employment Strategy (2011-2020) recognizes the importance of career guidance, especially in relation to reducing the mismatch between the skills supply and demand in the labor market. It is complemented by annual Action plans which define the aims and priorities of the employment policies.According to the new National Employment Strategy (2021 – 2026) Career guidance and counselling standards are recognized as important for the establishment of a single quality system in the field of career guidance. Therefore, it is necessary to facilitate their application by all service providers, through organizing information sessions and trainings for career practitioners in school teams, National employment service and employment agencies. Furthermore, the role and capacities of civil society organizations are recognized as important resource for strengthening employment policies and reaching the standards for quality services providing, especially for the people from vulnerable groups.
Youth policies
A new Youth Strategy was enacted in 2023, for the period of 2023-2030. It includes one specific aim which relates to the development of a functioning and sustainable system of career guidance and counselling. The Law on Youth (2011) emphasizes the importance of career guidance for young people and defines aims and activities.
