June 11, 2018 - The survey in which a total of 1,327 households participated over a year and answered questions about monthly spending, showed that Montenegrins are more willing to spend money on pleasure than on education which can bring them a long-term benefit.
Thus, for the education of children, Montenegrin parents allocated 23,597 euro each month for preschool elementary education. High school students cost less, so they spent on average 1,545 euro on teenagers. After high school, which is neither high nor master, they allocated 55,271 euro, and for the college education 2,48 million euro. Regarding the various courses (language, informatics and the like), the allocations were minimal - only 174,555 euro per month in the whole country. Therefore, almost three million euro a year, which is defensible given that the Montenegrins go to restaurants, cafes, and hotels, spent 5.014.997 euro in a month.
"Consumer culture has affected our region as well and there is more shopping and spending, even when there is no need for it. The desire for prestige and status symbols also condenses the character of spending. Eating at restaurants, staying at hotels, and consuming alcohol or tobacco comes along with such culture. The lifestyle, especially of the younger population, implies the consumption of this kind. That is why it is not surprising that we are prepared to allocate more for these purposes," says Andrija Đukanović, a sociologist for Vikend novine. He argues that on the other hand, it is understandable why the least money is allocated for education.
"In the poorer population, food and drink dominate spending. Education is something that comes at the end and, when looking at the total revenue, there is nothing to distinguish," said Dukanovic. The Montenegrin tows, he said, are known as the capitals of fun and entertainment, which is why the photographs of their cafés, which are full in the middle of the working hours, are known all over the region.
"Our people simply prefer to spend more on socializing, drinking and entertaining than on education, culture, and the like. On the other hand, a large part of our population has low income and uses it mainly for basic needs such as food and drink. And this fact, certainly, affects the final outlook of the statistical data on spending," said Djukanovic.
Text by Vikend novine, on June 9th 2018, read more at CdM
