The Preschool Institutions (PE) Support Program developed within Component 2 of the Ministry of Education project – “Inclusive Preschool Education” recognized, among others, the role of professional associates as carriers of change and the importance of supporting and strengthening them in that role.

To this end, the Ministry, through the Project, prepared, organized and implemented 12 two-day regional professional meetings with the aim of supporting the professional development of professional associates of all profiles as reflective practitioners whose role is to lead change through the development of democratic, inclusive and reflective practice.

Based on the findings of monitoring and evaluation within the framework of the Preschool Education Support Program and the previous experiences of professional associates in the implementation of the Foundations of the Preschool Education Program (PEP) – The Years of Takeoff, the counseling activities are focused on empowering professional associates to create targeted support for practitioners from their PE through horizontal exchanges – learning between kindergartens within the institution, but also between institutions.

Twelve two-day meetings, attended by around 380 professional associates of all profiles (psychologists, pedagogues, physical education, music, art and speech therapists), were implemented in the period April – May 2024 at 7 locations: three groups each in Belgrade and Fruska Gora, two groups in Kragujevac and one each in: Vranje, Čačak, Niš and Šabac.

During the first day, the professional associates, based on the results of the monitoring and the role of the professional associate in the development planning and monitoring of the practice of the PE, identified challenges and searched for possible solutions in mutual exchange. This included defining action proposals (short-term and long-term goals) as well as concrete support for practitioners, but also support for children’s learning and development.

During the second day of the Consultation, activities dealt with the role of professional associates in developing the PE community (stages in the change process and internal horizontal professional development).

The final activity was related to the development and presentation of an Action Plan for each specific PE.

The consultations, with the support of Component 2 of the Project and UNICEF, were developed and led by pairs of experienced practitioners from public primary schools who were also training leaders for OPs and mentors for the OPs: Jasmina Vuletić and Staniša Čabarkapa, Ana Kojić and Aleksandra Ružičić, and Violeta Vrcelj Odri and Snezana Bulatović.

These consultations are a continuation of the support to professional associates that was implemented in the period June – November 2021 and March – April 2022, when 280 psychologists and educators from public primary schools attended a two-day training – Professional Associates as Agents of Change (SNOP), which, based on the Decision issued by the Minister of Education, received the status of a program of public interest.

This training, which is based on theoretical premises aligned with the modern understanding of the nature of practice change and with the concept of the Foundations of the PVE Program – Years of Takeoff and represents a significant form of professional development, was developed by the Institute of Pedagogy and Andragogy of the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, within Component 2 of the Inclusive Preschool Education project.

Empowering professional associates to lead change is based on understanding the nature and process of change, through strengthening competencies for transforming the culture of the institution into a learning community and through strengthening capacities for developing the quality of PE practice.

You can see the photos here.

As part of Component 2 of the Ministry of Education’s project “Inclusive Preschool Education”, the Ministry, in cooperation with UNICEF, organized a new cycle of regional expert consultations of educational advisors, which were joined on this occasion by advisors-external associates (SSS) for preschool education (PVE) from all school administrations (ŠU).

The two-day consultations are planned to strengthen SSS’s capacity to support 25% of preschool institutions (PU) in 2024, through the Action Plan (AP) for implementing the Education Development Strategy 2020-2030.

Considering the existing resources and the size of the PVO system, this is the minimum number of PUs for which mentoring support is planned until the end of 2024.

The consultations, attended by about 120 educational advisors and SSS, were held at 4 locations in 2 terms:

• April 25-26, 2024 in Vrnjačka Banja (Schools: Užice, Čačak, Kraljevo, Kragujevac, and the Novi Pazar group) and in Vranje (Schools: Leskovac, Niš, Kruševac, Jagodina, and Zaječar);

• May 9-10, 2024 in Belgrade (Schools: Belgrade, Valjevo, and Požarevac) and in Irig (Schools: Zrenjanin, Sombor, and Novi Sad).

In order to optimally utilize the joint capacities of all those present at the counseling itself, it was important to carry out certain preparatory activities at the level of the SH and at the level of the selected selected PEs.

Educational counselors at the level of each SH were tasked with agreeing on which PEs, whose practitioners needed priority support for further quality implementation of the Foundations of the Program – The Take-Off Years and improving the quality of work (and that the number of kindergartens falls within the established 25%).

Each SH had autonomy in selecting the PEs for which they would plan mentoring support, and the SSS was also included in the selection. When selecting PEs, the SHs took into account the different lengths of the period of implementation of the new program concept, the size of the preschool institution (number of facilities), whether the PE has a professional associate, and certain specificities in the functioning of the PE.

Given that in each selected PU, support is planned for one facility (kindergarten), the directors of the PU were sent a letter regarding the final selection of a specific facility that will receive support during 2024. They were also helped in this by the format of the “personal identity card” of the PU/facility that they received from the Ministry of Education, which they should fill out as precisely as possible, considering their strengths and needs.

Educational advisors and the Social Security Administration brought the “personal identity card” filled out by the PU to the counseling session so that it would serve as a starting point in planning authentic support for a specific PU, or facility, during their work. They also used the Annual Work Plan and Development Plan of the specific institution (in electronic format) in planning support during the Counseling session itself.

The consultations were conducted at the level of the SH teams (educational advisors and SSS), and then further steps were planned immediately thereafter until the end of 2024, but also later.

During the two days of consultations, in a stimulating and working atmosphere, opportunities were created for professional exchange and joint learning of all those present, which contributed to the development of an authentic concept of mentoring support for each PU – planning activities and the dynamics of mentoring support plans in accordance with the needs of the PU and the resources of the SH.

Colleagues from the Ministry participated in the preparation of the scenario and conducting the Consultation – Jasmina Đelić, Head of the Department for Coordination of the Work of the SH and Vesna Šaponjić, an independent advisor in the same Department.

All participants in the consultation expressed satisfaction after the two-day work during which, in addition to the Department for Coordination of the Work of the SH, they also had the support of representatives of the Project and UNICEF.

Given that further high-quality implementation of the program concept and improvement of the quality of work is a complex, demanding and long-term process that requires further support for practitioners in preschool institutions even after the completion of the Project, the professional and advisory support that can be provided by educational advisors along with advisors – external collaborators in the field of early childhood education is recognized as very important support.

You can view the photos here.

On June 14, 2024, State Secretary in the Ministry of Education Zoran Kasalovic and the Mayor of Merosina Sasa Jovanović ceremoniously opened a newly constructed kindergarten within the “Poletarac” Preschool Institution in Merosina. The new facility, covering an area of approximately 640m2 and funded with over 53 million dinars, will provide 80 new spots for children, organized into four groups.

“With the construction of this facility, we continue to implement our educational policy aimed at increasing the coverage of children through the preschool education system. The Ministry of Education supports parents, local government, and our youngest citizens because by investing in their education, we lay the foundation for a healthy and happy childhood, and consequently, a successful future,” stated State Secretary Zoran Kasalovic, emphasizing that the expansion of preschool institution capacities in Serbia is part of the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project supported by the World Bank.

Previously, as part of the Project, the Ministry of Education adapted six rooms for operation in five villages of the Merosina municipality, accommodating over 200 children in the preschool education system over the past four years. Free transportation has been provided for children from remote areas, and workshops have been organized for parents from socially vulnerable groups. Merosina received non-refundable funds totalling 7.3 million dinars for these activities.

“The Municipality of Merosina and the Poletarac Preschool Institution are honoured and pleased to open the new kindergarten in Merosina today with State Secretary in the Ministry of Education Zoran Kasalovic. The new “Poletarac” building eliminates waiting lists, facilitates and enhances children’s stay in the kindergarten, and allows parents to work with peace of mind, knowing their children are in good hands. It is our responsibility as the local self-government, together with the ministry, to continue implementing such successful projects and to improve conditions for young parents while encouraging natality,” stated Mayor Sasha Jovanović.

In addition to expanding capacities, the Ministry of Education pays special attention to improving the quality of the preschool education system. In line with this, training sessions have been conducted for employees within the preschool institution territory of the Merošina municipality. Visits to the cluster center in Pirot have been organized for educators, professional associates, and directors to exchange practical knowledge and experiences. The Inclusive Education Team has undergone training aimed at supporting parents and children. Additional funds amounting to approximately 225,000 dinars have been allocated to enhance the quality of the preschool education system, specifically for the acquisition of ICT equipment and low-mobile furniture.

The Ministry of Education is implementing the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project in cooperation with the World Bank, covering 23 facilities in the territory of 22 local self-governments. The Project aims to improve the quality of preschool upbringing and education, with a particular focus on increasing its accessibility to children from socially vulnerable groups and raising parents’ awareness of the importance of including children in the preschool education system from the earliest age. The total value of the project is 47 million euros.

You can see the photos here.