No evidence of compulsory national curricula inclusive of LGBTQI people: 0/10 | The compulsory national curricula includes representation of one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10
Civil society organisations report that there is no inclusion of LGBTQI topics in school curricula. Following a thorough textbook analysis, civil society organisation Labris requested the Ministry of Education to review the content of textbooks and teaching aids which contain discriminatory content. Thanks to their efforts, all textbooks with hateful content were successfully withdrawn by the Serbian Institute of Textbooks.
However, in 2022, the Serbian Orthodox Patriarch and the Dveri party leader publicly challenged the content of new biology textbooks for promoting “LGBT Ideology” over descriptions of gender and sexual identity, and called for their replacement. The Dveri party leader pledged to introduce legislation banning the “promotion of homosexual propaganda and transgenderism to minors”. The Minister in charge of education subsequently ordered a new assessment of the syllabus and tasked the National Education Council with evaluating whether the programme was “in accordance with scientific theories” and whether “the national interest” was reflected in them. The working group entrusted with this task ultimately recommended the amendment of seven out of the eight challenged textbooks. The amended textbooks that were prepared for the 2023-2024 school year contain explanations and terminology on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). However, they no longer include narratives aimed at countering stigma affecting LGBTQI persons. ECRI has subsequently recommended that the authorities ensure that the curricula and textbooks at all levels of education address LGBTQI issues in a manner which is sensitive, age-appropriate and easy to understand and that discussions on LGBTQI issues are evidence-based and place particular emphasis on equality, diversity and inclusion.
There is no sex or relationship education curriculum that is inclusive of LGBTQI issues.
The country has a national human rights curriculum that includes a discussion of discrimination on the basis of SOGIGESC. The Institute of Improvement of Education and Upbringing has published a new manual for civic education containing information on sexual orientation and discriminatory treatments. ECRI has however noted that this curriculum is not followed by all pupils and that the topic of LGBTQI equality is routinely skipped.
