This year, education received 550 million euros from the state budget. This fund is several times higher than in previous years, even though schools are experiencing a rapid decline in the number of students.

The budget for education has increased progressively from year to year. In 2014, the revenues dedicated to the education system were 390 million euros at today’s exchange rate, while for the 2024 budget, the amount available reaches 550 million euros.

Financing is at the level of 2 to 3% of the Gross Domestic Product.

Data show that funding increases, as schools across the country lose about 15,000 students every year. The money over the last few years has been used to improve the infrastructure in schools, smart laboratories, the distribution of free books, the implementation of the pre-university reform and recently also for the salary increase.

However, the data also show that the increase in the budget has not increased the quality and this is reflected in the PISA-S testing, for 15-year-old students who are tested periodically.

For many experts and critical voices, the funding should be as much as 5% of the Gross Domestic Product, so that the funds raise the quality of teaching and the training of students, and also create incentives so that teaching is a sought-after branch for future generations.