As part of the “Inclusive Preschool Education” project implemented by the Ministry of Education, in partnership with the Novak Djokovic Foundation, three more classrooms in the territory of the municipality of Sid, the village of Erdevik, were adapted and equipped with a loan from the World Bank.

This municipality is characterized by disunity, as well as a multinational environment consisting of Serbs, Slovaks, Ruthenians, and others.

In the past period, after the return of families from abroad due to the coronavirus, the development of the wine industry, tourism, and agriculture led to the need to expand the capacity of the PU and the need for a full-day stay and space adaptation.

PU “Jelica Stanivukovic Silja” within the primary school “Sava Sumanovic” in Erdevik received the use of 3 study rooms for 3 educational groups (one older daycare, one mixed, and one preschool).

The Novak Djokovic Foundation, together with the Ministry of Education within the Inclusive Preschool Education project, recognized their need and adapted and fully equipped three study rooms.

Renovation works included the replacement of floors, walls, ceilings, joinery, and lighting, as well as the installation of air conditioning. The new, adapted rooms are fully adapted to the needs of children and educators and follow the new basics of the preschool education program.

In addition to the furniture that was selected and adapted to each age group, the rooms are equipped with new toys, carpets, lazy bags, easels for painting, books, and necessary consumables.

In this way, we have enabled the joint forces for a large number of families to remain in the countryside and for their children to have the same quality conditions for early education as in the cities.

In the new groups in the territory of the municipality of Sid, 65 new children aged from 1.5 to 7 years were enrolled and the premises were adapted and equipped in accordance with the needs of our youngest residents.

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Fadia M. Sadah, Regional Director of the World Bank for Human Development for Europe and Central Asia, visited Serbia. The main reason for the visit is to meet with the representatives of the relevant ministries and discuss the success of the jointly implemented projects, as well as future cooperation.

On that occasion, on November 18, a meeting was held with Branko Ruzic, Minister of Education, after which a tour of the newly opened kindergarten “VRACARAC” was organized as part of the “Vracar” Preschool. This kindergarten is an example of successful cooperation between the local government, the Vracar City Municipality of the City of Belgrade, and the Ministry of Education. The space for this facility was provided by the Municipality of Vracar, which adapted part of the space of the municipal administration for the needs of the kindergarten. The facility was equipped by the “Novak Djokovic” Foundation through the “Inclusive Preschool Education” project, which is implemented by the Ministry of Education in cooperation with the World Bank. On that occasion, the director of PU “Vracar”, Jelena Jelenic Jankovic, and her team, hosted Dr. Aleksandar Jovic, Assistant Minister of Education, Fadia M. Sadah, regional director of the World Bank for Human Development for Europe and Central Asia, Nikola Pontar, head of the World Bank office in Serbia, prof. Dr. Biljana Hroneos Krasavac, Director of the Project, Maja Kremic, Director of the “Novak Djokovic” Foundation, and other representatives of the World Bank, the Project Unit of the Ministry of Education, and the NDF.

In accordance with the national strategy for the development of education and upbringing in the Republic of Serbia until 2030, which includes the further development of the system of preschool Education and Care in accordance with the needs of children and families as support for the well-being and overall development of preschool children, the Ministry of Education is implementing the project “Inclusive preschool upbringing and education” worth 47 million euros, as so far the largest and most complex project at the national level dedicated to preschool education.

The Ministry, in cooperation with relevant organizations and partner institutions, has been intensively working for many years on the realization of measures and activities that contribute to the expansion of the coverage of children with quality preschool upbringing and education, providing support to the family in achieving its educational function, strengthening the professional competencies of the professional staff, improving cooperation with other relevant actors in providing social support to children and families.

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In the period October – November 2022, the fourth media campaign SMALL STORIES FOR BIG PEOPLE was implemented as part of the project.

Through this series of educational stories, we learn how much parental attention plays a significant role in developing a child’s positive image of himself and the development of his personality.

Involvement in daily activities gives children a sense of security and positively affects the development of their skills and the acquisition of healthy habits. Activities such as dressing independently, helping with cleaning the house, and similar, help the child to develop independence and self-confidence, but also patience, cooperation, and self-discipline.

The development of skills and habits requires time and the support of parents, which is reflected in their patient and tolerant attitude towards the child’s attempts and efforts. In this way, the child will be motivated and persevere in acquiring skills, because the parents will show him that even the completion of small tasks is valued and appreciated.

As part of this media campaign, the stories: “Upside Down Education”, “Big Bite”, “Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is” and “Tied in a Knot” are presented, which, in addition to the above, also aim to point out the importance of preschool Education and Care on children’s development. as well as to contribute to the development of an inclusive society.

The campaign was carried out on national television, as well as on online portals and social networks.

You can follow the media campaign SMALL STORIES FOR BIG PEOPLE on our Facebook page Big People from a young age, while you can watch the videos on our YouTube channel.

For more information, join and follow the Viber group Big People from a young age. See all versions of educational stories on our YouTube channel.