In the 2026/2027 school year all primary school pupils in Montenegro receive free textbook sets, for which the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation set aside more than three million euros. The Institute for Textbooks and Teaching Aids delivered them to schools in three rounds from 10 August, books for the second foreign language arrive in the second half of September, and a supplementary delivery for pupils enrolled late and children who came from abroad follows in October. Secondary school pupils buy their textbooks: sets cost from 118.10 to 146.90 euros, depending on the grade and foreign language, and some vocational textbooks can be downloaded free as PDFs.
This guide explains who gets free textbooks, how distribution worked, what secondary school sets cost and where to buy them.
Who gets free textbooks?
| Level | Textbooks 2026/2027 | Who pays |
| primary school, grades I to IX | a free set for every pupil | Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation |
| grammar school and vocational secondary school | bought | parents or pupils |
- 251 titles were printed for primary schools and 63 titles prepared for grammar and vocational schools; a few more new textbooks are planned by the end of the year.
- The government also provided free textbooks for all primary pupils in earlier years, for example 2024/2025, and did so again for 2026/2027.
- The Institute delivers the textbooks to schools, and schools hand them out to pupils.
How was distribution to primary pupils organised?
| Round | Grades | Delivery start |
| first | I, II and III | 10 August 2026 |
| second | IV, V and VI | 17 August 2026 |
| third | VII, VIII and IX | 24 August 2026 |
| second foreign language | grades that study it | second half of September 2026 |
| supplementary delivery | late enrolments and pupils from abroad | October 2026 |
- Delivery is planned according to MEIS, the education information system, based on the number of pupils per school and grade.
- If your child enrolled after August or returned from abroad, check with the school that they have been entered in MEIS; the supplementary delivery follows once that data is updated.
How much do secondary school textbooks cost?
| Item | Amount |
| cheapest set, with English as the first foreign language | 118.10 € |
| most expensive set, with English as the first foreign language | 146.90 € |
| VAT included in the price | 7% |
| some textbooks for vocational schools | free, as PDFs on the Institute's website |
- The price of a set depends on the grade and the foreign language the pupil studies.
- A family with two children in secondary school therefore spends between 236.20 and 293.80 euros on textbooks, depending on the grades.
- VAT on textbooks and teaching materials is 7%, so a 118.10 euro set contains about 7.73 euros of tax.
Where do you buy secondary school textbooks?
- In the bookshops of the Institute for Textbooks and Teaching Aids across Montenegro.
- In private bookshops that work with the Institute; distribution to bookshops began in the second half of August.
- In the Institute's online shop at zuns.me, where orders are processed one to two working days after payment.
- Vocational school pupils download the vocational textbooks the Institute publishes as PDFs from its website and buy the textbooks for general subjects.
How first-grade enrolment works is explained in our guide to first-grade enrolment, and points for secondary school in the guide to secondary school enrolment. School holidays are in the guide to the school calendar, and VAT rates in the guide to VAT in Montenegro.
Frequently asked questions
Are textbooks free in Montenegro in 2026/2027? They are for all primary school pupils. Secondary school pupils buy their textbooks, except some vocational textbooks that can be downloaded as PDFs.
How much do secondary school textbooks cost? Sets cost from 118.10 to 146.90 euros with English as the first foreign language, depending on the grade.
When are free textbooks handed out to primary pupils? For 2026/2027 from 10 August for grades I to III, from 17 August for IV to VI and from 24 August for VII to IX; the second foreign language arrives in the second half of September.
What if my child enrolled late or came from abroad? They receive a set in the supplementary delivery in October, after the MEIS data is updated; check with the school that the child has been entered.
Where can I buy secondary school textbooks? In the Institute for Textbooks and Teaching Aids bookshops, in private bookshops working with the Institute and in the Institute's online shop.
What is the VAT on textbooks? Textbooks and teaching materials are taxed at the reduced VAT rate of 7%.
Sources
Distribution, the number of titles and the prices of sets for 2026/2027 were announced by the Institute for Textbooks and Teaching Aids and reported by RTCG. Sales and orders are described by the Institute's online shop, and the government's provision of free textbooks to all primary pupils in earlier years by the government announcement from 2024. The 7% rate is set by Article 24a of the Law on Value Added Tax. Information checked on 29 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform and is not affiliated with the Institute.