From December 2023 to January 2024, a media campaign was conducted within the framework of the “Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care” project, aiming to raise public awareness about the importance of early inclusion of children in the preschool education system, the increase in capacity and accessibility of the preschool education system through the construction of new, and the adaptation and reconstruction of existing facilities, as well as the significance of introducing new program concepts in kindergartens.

For the past five years, the “Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care” project and the implementation of the “Years of Ascent” concept have been improving the accessibility, quality, and equity of preschool education for every child from birth to 6.5 years old, especially for children from vulnerable social groups.

With the support of the World Bank, €47 million has been allocated for the project, with the main activities including the construction of new and the extension of existing facilities, adaptation and reconstruction of existing facilities to expand capacity and improve conditions for the implementation of educational work in kindergartens, as well as the improvement of the competencies of professional staff for the application of modern pedagogical approaches in working with children.

About 224,000 children of preschool age and their families, preschool institutions and over 22,000 practitioners, local communities (units of local self-government, institutions of education, health and social care), state administration institutions in charge of preschool upbringing and education will benefit from the project.

An important part of the project is the continuous improvement of the knowledge and skills of professional staff for the application of new program concepts, which has been attended by 95% of educators so far, and all public preschool institutions have received mentoring support. The expertise of staff in the areas of digital competencies, quality assessment of preschool education, and the application of an inclusive approach in education has been improved. Activities are underway to improve the programs of all 16 higher education institutions that educate preschool teachers.

The organization of Parenthood Fairs across Serbia aimed to support families and children and contribute to raising awareness about the importance of early inclusion and integration of children into the preschool education system. The Parenthood Fairs are an example of a new and direct way of communication between parents and institutions at the local level, during which parents had the opportunity to learn through educational and interactive workshops how to improve their parenting skills and why kindergartens are a good environment for their children’s growth. Additionally, these events aim to provide parents with important information about the rights and services offered by local institutions, establishments, and organizations in one place.

So far, through the “Inclusive Childhood Education and Care” project:

Nine kindergartens have been built in 22 local self-governments, with 14 more facilities under construction, which will provide almost 4,000 new places for preschool children.

Over 250 adapted, renovated, and equipped educational rooms for almost 5,000 children.

400 rooms equipped with ICT equipment and low mobile furniture.

Almost 22,000 practitioners trained to apply the “Years of Ascent”.

Projects funded in 34 local self-governments.

Increased accessibility of kindergartens for almost 4,000 children from vulnerable social groups.

You can follow the project on our Facebook page “Veliki ljudi od malih nogu”, and video materials available on our YouTube channel.

For more information, join and follow the Viber group “Veliki ljudi od malih nogu”.

Minister of Education Prof. Dr Slavica Đukić Dejanović and the President of the temporary governing body of the municipality of Aleksandrovac Mirko Mihajlović on 17 January 2024 solemnly laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new kindergarten with a capacity of 180 places for children.

“By building new facilities, we will create conditions for the admission of new children from the territory of the Aleksandrovac municipality to the system of preschool upbringing and education, which will support the local self-government, parents and children. Increasing the number of children, as well as improving the quality of the preschool education system, is one of the strategic goals of the Ministry. We believe that investing in the youngest and their education is of great importance for their future, but also for society in general,” said the Minister of Education, prof. Dr. Slavica Đukić Dejanović.

The new facility will cover an area of ​​1,500 m2, and more than 179 million dinars will be invested in its construction from the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project, which is being implemented by the Ministry in cooperation with the World Bank.

The President of the temporary governing body of the municipality of Aleksandrovac, Mirko Mihajlović, said that the administration and the citizens of Aleksandrovac have long been waiting for the day for the construction of the new kindergarten facility.

“This investment is of great importance for the citizens of our municipality because there is a multi-decade problem of placing preschool children into kindergarten due to lack of space. First of all, we solve the social and pedagogical problem, and then also the problem of employment of parents who could not get a job because of taking care of their children at home. On this occasion, I would like to praise the vision and determination of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the relevant Ministry of Education, which has been assigned to the implementation of the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” program, and thank you for approving this project,” said Mihajlović.

The construction of the new kindergarten in Aleksandrovac is part of the “Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care” project. This project is implemented by the Ministry of Education in cooperation with the World Bank and with the support of local governments. The main goal is to increase the comprehensiveness of children through the construction of new and extension of existing kindergartens. This project will cover 23 facilities in 22 local governments, which will provide a total of 11,000 new places for children. Within the project, special attention is paid to the quality of the preschool education system through the improvement of the knowledge and skills of professional staff. An important aspect of the program is the inclusion of children from the earliest age, especially those from socially sensitive groups. The total project worth is 47 million euros.

You can see the photos here.