At the end of August and the beginning of September 2025, the Council of Europe organised six regional meetings with representatives of primary and secondary schools related to research on violence in schools in Montenegro.

The research methodology, questionnaires to be used, and all logistical details were presented at the events. It was also an opportunity for school representatives to ask questions, make suggestions, and address any doubts together.

The meetings were organised within the project "Prevent bullying and violence in schools in Montenegro", which is implemented by the Council of Europe and financed by Germany, with the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation as the main partner. The project aims to improve the system for the prevention and protection of children from peer, online and other forms of violence in schools in Montenegro. One of the key project activities is conducting national-level research on violence in schools in Montenegro. Its purpose is to assess the prevalence, forms and determinants of peer, online and other forms of violence among students in all Montenegrin primary and secondary schools.

The important research is planned for September and October 2025 and the data obtained will be used to create policies and procedures aimed at reducing violence in schools, as well as to design specific further steps.

In addition to the representatives of the Ministry and the Council of Europe, the meetings with the schools were also attended by representatives of the agency Defacto Consultancy, which is in charge of conducting the research. Before the meetings, questionnaires were created in an inclusive and transparent manner. In addition to students, the research will also include their parents, as well as representatives of schools and other relevant institutions. The attitudes of the mentioned target groups will be investigated using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods.

The preparatory process of the research included interviewer training, which the DeFacto agency organised on 8 September. The first research results are expected by the end of this year.