The European Investment Bank (EIB Global) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) have launched the nationwide Better Schools for All initiative in Montenegro, beginning with a comprehensive assessment of 813 pre-school, primary, and secondary schools. The first site visits were conducted in Podgorica, marking the start of a detailed evaluation of school infrastructure to ensure safe, modern, and inclusive learning environments for both pupils and teachers.
Funded with €2.3 million under the EIB Global Economic Resilience Initiative, the project is implemented by UNOPS in close collaboration with Montenegro’s Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation. The initiative builds on EIB’s long-term support for Montenegro’s education sector through the Team Europe approach, which has mobilized over €55 million to date via loans and EU grants under the Western Balkans Investment Framework.
A dedicated team of 25 engineers and architects is assessing school facilities against national and international standards covering safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, water and sanitation, ventilation, lighting, and gender-responsive design. The evaluation also considers the inclusion of children with disabilities, urban planning compliance, and the potential reuse of unused school buildings.
Officials emphasize that the assessment is key to providing reliable data and establishing clear investment priorities. Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Andjela Jakšić Stojanović, highlighted that the initiative will support accessible, equitable, and high-quality education by identifying concrete improvements in school infrastructure across the country.
The project also focuses on strengthening Montenegro’s capacity for data-driven planning. Collected data will be integrated into the Montenegro Education Information System, allowing the ministry to analyze infrastructure needs at both individual school and system-wide levels. The assessment will produce school-level recommendations, a strategic report outlining short-, medium-, and long-term priorities, and technical designs for priority school investments, increasing readiness for future financing.
UNOPS Director Michela Telatin noted that the initiative will transform the data collected into actionable improvements, ensuring safer schools, better learning environments, and sustainable long-term impact across Montenegro’s education system.
