1. Within the framework of their education systems, the Parties shall recognize that persons belonging to a national minority have the right to set up and to manage their own private educational and training establishments.

2. The exercise of this right shall not entail any financial obligation for the Parties.

Paragraph 1.

• Narrative

From the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education and Sport

The formation of elementary schools is based on the so called net of institutions, which are proposed by the municipalities, passed by the county and approved by the Government of the Republic of Croatia. All schools are financed from the State Budget.

Pre school institutions are founded by the local self-government and local government ( municipalities and cities). They are financed partly by the parents and partly by the founders. They can also be founded by religious institutions and other corporate bodies or individuals.

Pre school institutions, elementary schools and high schools may be founded by private persons. This also refers to the above mentioned institutions for members of national minorities.

On the foundations and management of preschool institutions and schools in which history and culture are taught in the language of the minorities the adequate legal provisions from the Croatian school systems are applied. For problems which are specific for schools of national minorities specific provisions which address these particularities are applied.

It should be said that minorities are consulted in all relevant questions concerning education, either directly through the students parents , or through minority associations and representatives. This enables members of national minorities to participate and be involved in decision making in models of educational institutions and their work.

From the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Science and technology

This Ministry has not received any requests for forming a Private University open to the public which would organize studies in the domain of language and history of any national minority.

• Legal

From the Constitutional Law on Human Rights and Freedoms and the Right of Ethnic and National Minorities

Article 17.

"Members of national and ethnic communities or minorities may found private kindergartens, schools and other educational institutions."

From the Law of Higher Education

Article 8.

"The university, and junior college may be founded by a physical or corporate person".

• State Infrastructure

( Stated in Article 12.)

• Policy

From the Jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education and Sport

In schools in which all classes are held in the minority language (except for classes in the Croatian language) more than half of the members of the school board are members of the relevant minority, and in schools with bilingual classes the number of members of the school boards are proportional.

In areas where the Law and Municipality Statutes demand obligatory bilingual classes i.e. the official use of the Croatian language and script of national minorities, students which attend classes in the Croatian language , also take obligatory classes in the language of the relevant minority.

• Factual

(stated in the descriptive unit)

Paragraph 2.

As in Paragraph 1.