Minister of Education Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic Dejanovic and president of the municipality of Pecinci, Sinisa Djokic, laid the foundation stone for a facility within the Preschool Institution “Vlada Obradović Kameni” in this municipality. Minister Djukic Dejanovic stated that the Government of the Republic of Serbia is dedicated to enhancing the quality and modernizing education, creating better conditions for work and learning.

“Education holds a particularly important place, as evidenced today by the expansion of the kindergarten in Pećinci, with an investment worth over 45 million dinars, which will expand the existing facility by 550 square meters, providing an additional 80 new places for children,” said the Minister of Education.

She also mentioned that the planned construction includes a total of 23 facilities in 22 local governments, along with the adaptation and equipping of rooms, ensuring an additional 11,000 places for children in kindergartens across Serbia.

“In this way, support is provided to local government, as well as to parents and children,” emphasized the Minister, who had previously visited Šimanovci and the facility within the Preschool Institution “Vlada Obradović Kameni”, where she toured 10 rooms equipped under the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project.

Through the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project, the Ministry of Education also provides systematic support to improve the quality of the preschool education system in the Republic of Serbia. The mayor of Pećinci, Siniša Đokić, announced that today marks the beginning of an investment that will eliminate waiting lists for kindergarten enrolment in Pećinci.

“Soon, we will begin the reconstruction and expansion of kindergartens in Obrež, and when these two investments are completed, we will no longer have waiting lists anywhere in our municipality. All parents who wish to enrol their children in kindergarten will be able to do so. Children are our priority, and that is why we invest heavily in educational facilities. Just in the last few years, new kindergartens have been built in Šimanovci and Kupinovo, while complete reconstructions have been carried out in Karlovčić, Brestač, and Ogar. Our goal is to make child-rearing easier for parents, and that is why as of this year, daycare in kindergartens is completely free for all children,” said the mayor of Pećinci, Siniša Đokić.

As part of additional equipment for preschool institutions, the Preschool Institution in Pecinci also received ICT equipment worth nearly 140,000 dinars, as well as low mobile furniture valued at around 215,000 dinars. The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the World Bank through the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project, valued at 47 million euros, is implementing the construction of new facilities, expansion, adaptation, and equipping of existing facilities across Serbia. So far, 9 kindergartens have been built, while construction is underway for another 14 facilities. Additionally, through the Project, nearly 300 kindergarten rooms have been adapted and equipped for half-day and full-day stays in over 70 local self-government units, benefiting more than 6,000 children.” You can see the photos here.

Minister of Education Prof. Dr Slavica Djukić Dejanović and the mayor of Prijepolje, Drago Popadić, laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new kindergarten within the Preschool Institution “Miša Cvijović” in Prijepolje, which will be built in this town after 40 years.

“Today, we are here for a special reason – laying the foundation stone for a new kindergarten that will provide 200 new places for children. The strategic goal of our state and the Ministry of Education is to make education accessible to all, to ensure the best conditions for learning and work, to implement the most modern programs, and to encompass a larger number of children through upbringing and education. We achieve this goal by building kindergartens across Serbia, including the one here in Prijepolje, whose construction we start today, and also the one in Čačak, where construction began yesterday,” she stated.

The minister emphasized that building kindergartens contributes to the ‘Leap into the Future 2027’ project.

“There is no better way and better connectivity between local government units, the Ministry of Education, and state policy than when we think in this way about children and creating better conditions for their education,” said Djukić Dejanović, adding that nurturing friendship and diversity, especially in multinational environments like Prijepolje, is very important.

According to her, the new facility in Prijepolje will cover approximately 1,300 square meters, with over 142 million dinars allocated for its construction.

“Our aspiration is to involve as many children as possible in preschool upbringing and education, ensuring that they learn and grow in a stimulating environment,” the minister said, highlighting that special attention is given to the quality of preschool upbringing and education, as it is the foundation for a successful future.

She emphasized the importance of ongoing professional development activities for educators.

Support provided through the “Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care” project also focuses on enhancing the knowledge and skills of educators to implement the new ‘Years of Ascent’ programmatic concept. This support is extended to educators and staff in kindergartens in Prijepolje,” she noted.

Before laying the foundation stone for the new kindergarten, the minister visited Brodarevo and toured the “Srce” kindergarten, which was adapted and equipped under the project and currently serves 90 children. She also visited the “Svetozar Marković” Elementary School in Brodarevo.

Drago Popadić, the president of the municipality of Prijepolje, particularly highlighted the support from the Ministry of Education and the World Bank, recognizing the importance of investing in the education of the youngest.

He stated that children are our future and that investing in their education is the most important step towards building a prosperous society.

“This kindergarten represents the achievement of our goals in the field of education and child care, aiming for every child to have access to kindergarten and to receive equal conditions for preschool development.” He added that the construction of this kindergarten will eliminate waiting lists.

In collaboration with the World Bank, the Ministry of Education is implementing the construction of new, expansion, adaptation, and equipping of existing facilities within the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project across Serbia. A total of 23 kindergartens will be covered by this project, with an investment value of 47 million euros.

You can see the photos here.