To support the directors of all public preschool institutions and educational advisors of school administrations, in cooperation with UNICEF and through component 2 of the project Inclusive Preschool Education and Care, in the period April – May 2023, 9 two-day consultations on the topic “Organization and management of the institution” were successfully implemented. Directors of preschool institutions (PU), educational advisers of school administrations, and principals of primary schools (primary schools) – presidents of municipal principals’ activities took part in the consultations.

The first day of counseling, for PU directors and educational advisors, was dedicated to the areas of quality: Organization and management of the institution and Professional learning community. First, the directors of preschool institutions, 4 each in the morning and afternoon sessions through the prism of the Quality Standards for the work of preschool institutions, presented examples of inspiring practice to their fellow directors. The directors’ presentations showed how their activities contributed to the development of the quality of the institution’s work in different domains – who supported them all in the process of change, what challenges they faced, and how they overcame them. Examples of inspiring practice were presented to their fellow directors by Tanja Jovanovic, director of the preschool institution from Zajecar, Milka Simic, director of the preschool institution from Kragujevac Vanja Milutinovic, director of the preschool institution from Zagubica, Biljana Gajic, director of the preschool institution from Cukarica, Jelena Selak, director of the preschool institution from Odzak, Snezana Bulatovic, director of the preschool institution from Kula, Marija Starcevic, director of preschool institution from Velika Plana, Suzana Simeunovic, director of the preschool institution from Cacak, Radmila Arandjelovic, director of PU from Rakovica, Ana Lacarak, director of PU from Backi Petrovac and Jasmina Bouali, director of PU from Zemun.

Presentations of examples of inspiring practice at the forums that followed were the occasion and initiator of discussion and exchange between the participants, principals, and educational advisors, and an opportunity to ask the principals who presented their practice additional questions. At the end of the day, the directors were given guidelines for preparing a presentation of their practice to colleagues, at various meetings of the horizontal exchange between the directors.

The second day of counseling, in which, in addition to educational advisors and directors of PU, the presidents of the municipal assets of primary school directors took part, was dedicated to the transition from preschool institutions to elementary school. After the presentation of the training “On the common path of learning” which was intended for and was attended by expert associates from primary schools and teachers – coordinators of professional councils for class teaching, the participants created Action Plans to support children and families during the transition from kindergarten to elementary school.

The last block of counseling was an opportunity to look at the challenges faced by the actors of PU and primary schools, as well as children and families in transition, and to think about ways to overcome them. A significant insight is that it is important to include parents as partners in the development of plans. Conferences were held in Belgrade, Nis, Novi Sad, Valjevo, Kragujevac, Cacak, Vranje, Zrenjanin, and Vrnjacka Banja, and about 270 participants took part in them. The participants expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to strengthen themselves professionally and improve their competencies through exchanges with colleagues.

You can see the photos here.

In Kragujevac, in the “Ciciban” Kindergarten, on Saturday, June 10, 2023. the sixth Association Fair was held in the organization of the Ministry of Education and the City of Kragujevac, within the project “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care”.

The parenting fair, during which 16 workshops for children and parents were held, was opened by Assistant Minister of Education Dr. Milan Pasic in the presence of Dusan Aleksic, President of the City Council for Education of the City of Kragujevac and Sanja Jakovljevic, Director of PU “DJurdjevdan”.

“The inclusion of all children, especially those from vulnerable social groups, in the system of preschool upbringing and education is the key to healthy and happy growing up.” Through the Inclusive preschool education project, we have so far organized parenting fairs in Cacak, Sombor, Vranje, Loznica, and Novi Pazar, which were visited by more than 2,000 parents with their children. I am glad that the Parenting Fair is also being held in Kragujevac today, and on this occasion, I remind you that we recently signed a contract for the construction of a new kindergarten in the settlement of Erdec, which will provide 270 new places for children in Karagujevac,” said Assistant Minister of Education Dr. Milan Pasic.

During the fair, visitors could get information about services and types of support for families with children provided by more than 20 institutions. Also, this was an opportunity for them to learn how to improve their parenting skills through various educational and interactive workshops, as well as to participate in creative, research, sports, and other activities.

“The parenting fair as part of the Inclusive preschool upbringing and Education project, of which the city of Kragujevac is a participant, is an opportunity for parents to be informed in one place about the importance of early inclusion of children in the system of preschool upbringing and education, to consult with social workers, psychologists, health workers and other experts who work with children from the earliest age”, said the member of the Council for Education in Kragujevac, Dusan Aleksic.

“Listening to the needs of parents and children, we will continue to provide the best possible and adequate conditions for staying in preschool education and upbringing institutions, so that educators and parents, and especially children, feel safe, beautiful, and happy with their friends in kindergartens,” he said.

The parenting fairs are part of the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” Project, which is organized by the Ministry of Education with the support of the World Bank and in cooperation with local governments.

You can see photos from the Parenting Fair here.

From February to March 2023, 3 expert consultations with educational advisors were held on the topic of quality assurance of the methodology of external evaluation of preschool institutions.

From September 1, 2022, all preschool institutions are obliged to implement the new program concept. The Quality Framework adopted in 2018 was revised (it meets the requirements of the new program concept) and has not been applied until now.

The counseling sessions were held in Novi Sad (educational advisors of schools: Novi Sad, Belgrade, Sombor, and Zrenjanin), Nis (educational advisors of schools: Nis, Kragujevac, Leskovac, Krusevac, Zajecar, and Jagodina), and Cacak (educational advisors: educational advisors of schools: Cacak, Valjevo, Pozarevac, Kraljevo, Uzice, Kosovska Mitrovica I Novi Pazar), and 79 educational advisors from all schools attended.

On the first day of counseling, the educational counselors prepared for the visit to the kindergarten through the presentation of forms for observing activities in the kindergarten and a package of additional instruments and auxiliary materials, created within the Project (following the Rulebook on the quality standards of the institution’s work).

They also created an activity plan with the division of responsibilities to provide feedback from the role of a “critical friend” to the kindergarten manager, who will objectively assess the quality of the kindergarten’s work.

Part of the preparation included familiarization with the specifics of the kindergarten they will visit, as well as research reading of 4 manuals/guides created to support practitioners in the quality application of the new program concept: A manual for documentation, Guide for arranging the space in the kindergarten, Guide for developing a theme/project with children, Strategy for the joint development of specific children’s programs following individual children’s programs.

On the second day of counseling, full-day visits were made to selected kindergartens in preschool institutions, in which educational counselors divided into 4 groups (7-8 counselors each) had the opportunity to apply the revised Quality Framework and as “critical friends” gain insight into the quality of kindergarten work in two quality areas: Family educational work for children and support for children. On that occasion, the educational counselors joined 2 groups of children of different ages in pairs, where they followed the implementation of the program of educational work, i.e. the work of the educators in the group, and gave them brief feedback.

After that, they visited the common rooms of the kindergarten (external and internal), analyzed pedagogical documentation (Thematic/project portfolio and Children’s portfolio), conducted interviews with professional associates and managers, educators, and parents, and distributed surveys to them. Before leaving, kindergarten representatives were given feedback on the quality of kindergarten work in two areas.

In the course of 3 consultations, educational advisors visited and observed the work of the following kindergartens from the point of view of a “critical friend”: Novi Sad – preschool “Nasa radost”, kindergartens: Krcko Orascic, Vilenjak, Cvrcak i mrav, Zlatokosa, Nis – preschool “Pcelica”: Cvrcak, Plavi cuperak, Brodic, Petar pan and Cacak – preschool “Radost”: Bambi, Radost, Majski cvet, Bosko Buha. 

On the third day of counseling, educational counselors worked on harmonizing grades at the level of standards and indicators in two areas of work quality, analyzing the results of surveys and interviews, triangulating quality evidence at the area level, and creating a report on the quality of work for each kindergarten.

After the completed report, upon returning to the school administrations, the heads of the school administrations sent reports to all the visited kindergartens, written from the role of “critical friend” who gives a different perspective on the work of the institution, and who can be useful to practitioners in a more objective assessment of the quality of work in their kindergarten.

All counseling participants expressed their satisfaction after the three-day work, during which they had the support of 4 mentors/managers for the implementation of OP (experienced professional associates). In addition, educational advisors from all school administrations, together with directors of preschool institutions and directors of elementary schools – presidents of municipal assets, participated in the two-day consultation “Organization and management of the institution” which covered topics in the field of quality, management, and organization, and the transition of children from kindergarten to elementary school.

The implementation of the new program concept is a complex, demanding, and long-term process that requires further support from practitioners in preschool institutions. After the completion of the Project, the professional and advisory support that can be provided by educational advisors was recognized as very important support.

You can see other photos here.