Centre for Civic Education (CCE) has addressed all municipalities in Montenegro with an initiative to, within their respective competences, initiate a process of systematic verification of the personnel files of employees in municipal bodies, services, and enterprises founded by municipalities. The aim of this initiative is to establish the validity of educational certificates on the basis of which these individuals entered into employment, as well as to strengthen public trust among citizens and residents in the work of local self-government authorities.
We recall that in May 2024, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation established an Intersectoral Working Group for the Verification of Educational Certificates, following findings by competent state authorities indicating the existence of a significant number of disputed diplomas. This further underscores the need for local self-governments to take appropriate measures to ensure legality and professional standards, so that tasks of public interest are performed by qualified and competent individuals.
The absence of systematic control of educational certificates may have serious consequences, including a decline in the quality of public services, damage to the reputation of the education system, the creation of inequalities among employees, and the erosion of public trust in institutions. Conversely, the implementation of such verification processes would contribute to greater transparency in the work of municipal authorities, the strengthening of professional standards, institutional integrity, and increased trust among citizens and residents.
CCE calls on all municipalities to establish cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation for the purpose of diploma verification, as well as to form, within their respective administrations, a dedicated commission or working group tasked with reviewing the personnel files of employees across organisational units. It is also essential that the public be informed in a timely manner about the outcomes of these verification processes, in line with the principles of transparency and accountability. CCE further recommends consolidating the established findings into a dedicated register of verified educational certificates, accompanied by the obligation to initiate appropriate proceedings in cases where irregularities or unlawful practices are identified, in accordance with applicable regulations.
CCE expresses the hope that municipalities will consider this initiative with due attention, bearing in mind the unquestionable public interest in the long-term strengthening of legality, professionalism, depoliticisation, and transparency in their work.
Snežana Kaluđerović, Senior Legal Adviser