Enrollment of children in the Compulsory Preschool Education Program for children in the year before entering elementary school (POPOiO) in the 2025/2026 school year. year, will take place in the period from February 2 to 10, 2026.
The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, in cooperation with public and private preschool institutions and elementary schools in the area of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, made a plan for the implementation of the Program which will include children who will be 5 years and 6 months old on March 1, 2026 and who, in this school year, were not enrolled in any of the preschool institutions.
Children who in this school year, in the period September-January, attended a preschool institution where the Comprehensive Development Program (CRP) is implemented, will not be included in the Program of Compulsory Preschool Education, because the Comprehensive Development Program also includes the Program of Compulsory Preschool Education.
Children who attended a preschool institution will receive a certificate of completed CRP, and children attending the Compulsory Preschool Education Program, a certificate of completed POPOiO. Both certificates are valid for enrollment in primary school.
The compulsory pre-school education program for children in the year before entering primary school is financed from the Cantonal Budget for 180 hours (12 working weeks / 3 hours per day). The program is implemented by public and private preschool institutions that have been verified, i.e. registered in the Register of preschool institutions of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, as well as schools in areas where there are no state or private preschool institutions. The program will be implemented in the period March-May.
The Law on Preschool Education provides fines for parents/guardians who do not enroll their child in the Program of Compulsory Preschool Education in the year before starting elementary school.
Parents/guardians of children who will attend the Compulsory Preschool Education Program are required to bring the following documents when enrolling their child: Birth certificate (a copy that does not need to be certified) and a Medical certificate for enrollment in preschool and primary school, which is free of charge.
The start of the implementation of the compulsory preschool education program in the year before entering elementary school is planned for March 3, 2026.
