Living Standards Measurements Study - Serbia 2002 - 2007

Similarly to the research conducted in 2002,
the 2007 data indicates significant differences
connected with different social and economic
indicators: the educational system includes far fewer
of young people from households where the
household head has low education (28 percent),
young people from the poorest families (42
percent), Roma (62 percent), refugees and IDP
young people (22 percent). The percentage of pupils
from families that receive transfer payments to
families (MOP) is 2.4 percent and 19 percent are
from families that receive allowance for children.
If we compare data from 2007 in relation to
type of secondary school attended and economic
wealth of household, with data from 2002 21 , we
notice that children from non-urban areas and poor
population are still more likely to opt for
professions that require three-year programs or to
discontinue education. However, in terms of
discontinuing schooling, the difference between
urban and non-urban areas has decreased by
approximately 6 percent.
Differences by gender and non-participation in
the educational system are strong for poor children
(50 percent female compared to 31 percent male),
refugees and IDPs (19 percent female compared to
27 percent male) and young people from rural areas
(17 percent female compared to 24 percent male).
Interestingly, 6 percent of children from the richest
and the most educated families are not included in
the educational system, and this was not the case
with children aged 7-14 years.
The highest percentage of non-participation in
the educational system relates to children (7-14
years) and young people (15- 19 years) in
Vojvodina and West Serbia, while it is the lowest in
Belgrade. If attendance of gymnasium is seen as the
orientation of young people toward continuation of
education at institutions of high and higher
education, then it is safe to say that this objective is
the highest priority for young people from: the most
educated families (43 percent compared to the
average of 16 percent), the richest households (34
percent) and urban areas (22 percent). Roma are not
found among pupils attending gymnasiums, and
there are not young men from the poorest families
(only 3.8 percent of girls are enrolled) and young
men from the category of refugees and IDPs (only
3.9 percent of girls are enrolled).
The rate of pupils repeating a grade is slightly
higher than in primary education at 1.9 percent,
mostly among males (2.6 percent), young people from
less educated families (3.1 percent), and the poorest
families (3.1 percent), as well as young people from
South East Serbia (5.4 percent) and Vojvodina (2.6
percent). The same class includes 6.2 percent of
Roma (exclusively girls). The sample contained only
12 Roma children of relevant age, which makes it
impossible to draw any statistical conclusions.
Graph 8.11. Attendance of secondary school, young people aged 15 to 19, 2007
1.1%
0.3%
12.8%
17.8%
12.3%
7.9%
1.4%
0.2%
11.2%
24.5%
10.4%
6.7%
0.7%
15.0%
8.1%
0.6%
15.2%
9.7%
2.6%
11.8%
7.7%
1.1%
19.3%
22.5%
0.0%
4.9%
0.0%
6.3%
1.2%
47.7%
45.6%
50.7%
35.0%
47.3%
40.2%
Total Urban Other The poorest 1. quintile The richest 5.quintile
Primary school Secondary 1, -2, -3-year Secondary -4 year
Gymnasium
Discontinued education.
Special school for
children with disabilities
Completed secondary school
106 Living Standards Measurements Study - Serbia 2002 - 2007