Today, civil society organizations and civil activists submitted an updated list of signatories of the initiative against the introduction of religious education in the educational system to the Committee on Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of the Parliament of Montenegro. A total of 114 non-governmental organizations and 9 civil activists have supported the defense of secular public education in Montenegro.

On this occasion, we remind that the civil society organizations behind this initiative strongly oppose the introduction of religious education in public educational institutions. They consider such a proposal contrary to the fundamental constitutional values of Montenegro as a civil, secular state, and to the best interests of children and young people.

The educational system must remain a space for community, learning, and development based on science, rather than divisions based on dogmatic religious grounds.

Religious education is prohibited by Article 5 of the General Law on Education and Upbringing, and attempts to abolish this provision represent a serious threat to the secular character of the state.

In the Montenegrin educational system, there is a subject called Religious Studies, which allows students to learn about all religions and their customs, promoting interculturalism and unity. In contrast, religious education would separate children of believers from children of atheists, and even further divide children of believers based on different religious affiliations. This would accentuate the existing ethnic and religious divisions in Montenegrin society.

What is particularly concerning is the fact that the Parliament of Montenegro has given the petition for the introduction of religious education priority status, even though the collection of signatures for this initiative is still ongoing, until May 10, 2025. This sets a precedent and disregards the principle of equal treatment of all civic initiatives, as previous petitions with sufficient signatures had to wait months for consideration—or were never included in the parliamentary procedure.

We call on the Parliament of Montenegro to act responsibly and in accordance with the Constitution, laws, and the best interests of children and young people. State schools must not become spaces for religious divisions—education must remain based on science, critical thinking, and the values of communal life in a civil society.