On February 27, 2024, Minister of Education Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic Dejanovic and Mayor of Cacak Milun Todorovic laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new kindergarten in the village of Zablace, near Cačck.

Over 110 million dinars will be invested in the construction of the new kindergarten, which will cover an area of 1200 m2. The construction of the new facility will provide 120 new places for children, contributing to reducing the waiting list for enrollment in preschool institutions.

“The Ministry of Education, with the support of the World Bank, continues to work diligently and dedicatedly to expand the capacities of preschool institutions across Serbia by constructing new facilities and expanding and adapting existing ones. Our goal is to involve as many children as possible in the preschool education system, especially those from socially vulnerable groups. We also pay special attention to the quality of preschool education, as we believe it is the foundation for a successful future,” said Minister of Education Prof. Dr Slavica Đukić Dejanović.

She added that within the Project “Inclusive Childhood Education and Care” the city of Čačak received a grant of 4.8 million dinars.

“The city administration and the Ministry directed these funds towards adaptation and equipping of spaces, thanks to which 90 children from sensitive groups are now attending the preschool program. Simultaneously, work has been done with the parents of these children through continuous implementation of the ‘Schools for Parents’ program, which has provided a new approach to family relationships from a sociological and educational perspective,” added the Minister.

She reminded that education holds a special place in the project ‘Leap into the Future Serbia – 2027,’ and that the beginning of the construction of a new kindergarten in Zablaće is evidence of this.

Mayor of Čačak Milun Todorović stated that he was honored to ceremoniously mark the beginning of the construction of the kindergarten in Zablaće together with the Minister today, a facility that will accommodate around 120 children from 10 local communities.

“After three years of intensive work by the local government and the relevant ministry to obtain all the conditions for building the kindergarten, it has officially started, to the great satisfaction of all of us, especially the children and parents living in these local communities. We thank the Ministry of Education, which recognized our city and included us in the very significant project “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care“, as well as the World Bank, which finances it with 167 million dinars, while the City of Čačak participated with just over six million dinars for project development and land purchase,” said Mayor Milun Todorović, thanking the Minister for her visit.

The construction of new kindergartens is part of the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project, which the Ministry of Education is implementing with the support of the World Bank. This Project is dedicated to increasing the capacities of preschool institutions throughout Serbia by 11,000 new places, as well as improving preschool education through the introduction of New Program Foundations, training of professional staff, mentor support, and educator training.

You can see the photos here.

Through the project “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” implemented by the Ministry of Education, the adaptation with the furnishing of ambient space for two work rooms in the separate department of the Elementary School “Emilija Ostojić” in Gorobilje has been carried out, and two more are in progress in Prilipac.

The preschool institution “Olga Jovicić Rita” in Požega was founded in 1965 (primarily at the Social Services Centre) and celebrates its 60th anniversary next year. Currently, the institution operates with 42 educational groups, accommodating 1042 children and approximately 157 staff members.

Within the town itself, the institution has three facilities, and since 2016, it has initiated a pilot project for full-day programs in separate departments of rural schools. The interest in enrolling children in rural schools at that time was unexpected and continues to show a trend of steady growth.  This step has created multifunctional benefits. Closed rural schools have started to regain their former glory and have become lively again. Young people are staying in rural environments, and employment rates in suitable kindergarten profiles have increased.

Today, we have eight rural schools with a full-day program from our preschool institution, forming twelve groups with over 170 children. It’s worth noting that there have been no capital investments in rural schools since the 1980s.

Through this project of the Ministry of Education and the World Bank, equipping four work rooms involving construction work and furnishing ambient space has unequivocally not only brought closer but also aligned the working space with European standards. The furniture was carefully selected according to age groups and standards, in line with spatial units that will evoke personal affinities, permanent engagement, and wonder in children. Didactics, consumables, and literature are in accordance with the new program foundations.

Thanks to these and similar projects in our country, we ensure quality upbringing and equal conditions for children wherever they are born on the map of Serbia. Children are the only true, unmissable investment that should be made.”

You can see the photos here.

Within the project “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” implemented by the Ministry of Education, financed by the World Bank loan, 7 educational rooms have been equipped in the kindergarten “Poletarac” Ljubovija.

The kindergarten “Poletarac” Ljubovija has been engaged in educational work continuously for over forty years, since its foundation in 1981 in a building constructed the same year.

In the academic year 2023/2024, a total of 254 children were enrolled, with 236 in full-day and 18 in half-day programs. In recent years, the institution has faced a space shortage for accommodating children. The number of newborns increases annually, leading to growing interest in kindergarten enrolment. In the latest enrolment competition, 40 preschool-aged children remained on the waiting list.

Over the decades, the institution has renovated within its capabilities, participated in various projects, conducted adaptations, and expanded capacities to admit more children. In the past decade, the Municipality of Ljubovija also faced two major floods that affected the kindergarten. The latest reconstruction in 2023 involved renovating the entire facility, necessitating the temporary relocation and subsequent return of all furniture, which further affected its wear and tear and quality.

The implementation of the Ministry of Education’s project ‘Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care’, which equipped educational rooms in the institution, is of great significance. It collectively ensures quality conditions, a healthy environment, and surroundings for every child attending the institution, aiming for their holistic development—intellectually, physically, and educationally—thus contributing to happier childhoods and a solid foundation for the future.

A total of seven rooms are fully equipped with furniture, didactic materials, and toys that are tailored to the needs and ages of the children attending the respective educational groups.

You can see the photos here.