The Progress Report published by UNICEF within the project Incentive Parenting through play highlighted the importance of parental support during the Covid-19 crisis as one of the main insights.

According to the report, it has become clearer than ever those parental capacities are the main source of support for children and that a strengthened parent is the best chance for a child.

In that sense, it is important to ensure the continuity of services for children and parents in crises and thus reduce inequality in society, which creates an opportunity for children to realize their maximum potential.

With that aim, UNICEF, together with partner organizations, has animated different stakeholders through various communication channels and interesting content. Thus, the activities of the strategic partnership UNICEF and RTS FOR PARENTS, the program PARENT’S CORNER and CHILDREN’S CORNER, as well as various programs aimed at strengthening professional and institutional capacities (equipping health centers, development of digital competencies of patronage nurses, etc.).

UNICEF will further develop all planned activities and future initiatives based on the need to provide support and protection to families in times of crisis, as the spread of the Covid-19 virus and emergencies have a major impact on children’s well-being even though they are not the „face” of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, with the support of Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care project, plans to work on improving the digital competencies of employees in preschool institutions. In order to record the initial situation, a questionnaire was created through which educators, professional associates and principals of preschool institutions assessed their competencies for using content offered by digital technologies, the frequency of different practices and the availability and use of different digital resources in computer science (digital equipment and digital resources and tools ). Also, the questionnaire looked at the opinions of the employees in the PU on the use of digital technologies in working with children.

The questions in the questionnaire, mainly given through four-point assessment scales, relate to the following areas:

• 1. use of computer equipment and digital resources;
• 2. implementation of digital technologies in direct educational work with children;
• 3. implementation of digital technologies for exchange of information with family, colleagues, local community;
• 4. implementation of digital technologies in professional networking and professional development, and
• 5. resources of the institution for the implementation of digital technologies.

Based on the processed results, a Research Report on the implementation of digital technologies in preschool institutions was prepared. The conclusions presented in it can be considered relevant given that they are based on data collected on a representative sample that includes preschools different in terms of size, level of development of the region in which they are located and the degree of urban settlement. The study involved 25 preschool institutions, which include 190 facilities, or 1560 respondents.

The results show that educators, professional associates and directors of preschool institutions have a positive attitude towards the integration of digital technologies in various aspects of their work, but also an assessment that they need further training in certain areas. Based on the presented results, the domains in which practitioners face greater challenges, and express a greater need for support, which can be the basis for developing a framework of digital competencies of educators and a starting point for creating various forms of professional development of practitioners in preschool institutions in order to develop and improving their digital competencies (creating accredited programs that respond to the needs of practice and practitioners, but also organizing horizontal exchanges and connecting practitioners themselves within the internal professional training in the institution). Also, the assessments of employees in preschool institutions indicate the necessary solutions from the system level and finding ways to adequately equip preschool institutions with digital technology and improve programs for initial education of educators.

The motivation of practitioners and their interest in further training with adequately developed measures and types of support are the way to a gradual transformation and shaping of the system that follows the trends of modern society, but which is primarily aimed at supporting the welfare of children. You can download a detailed research report on the application of digital technologies in preschool institutions HERE.

Within the project „Support to the Development of the Preschool Online Learning Community”, implemented by the CIP-Center for Interactive Pedagogy with the support of UNICEF and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, experts in preschool education created a series of seven video trainings.

Within the first two types of training, participants have already had the opportunity to further educate and adopt practical and theoretical knowledge in the field of social and emotional learning of preschool children and support for social and emotional learning in educational work with preschool children. Through video and audio presentations of good practices, short theoretical lectures and practical assignments, employees were able to get answers to many questions and find new creative ideas for professional development within the institution.

The third training in a row, which deals with digital tools in the function of professional development, is currently underway. Digital competencies of educators and pedagogical application of digital tools, safety of children on the Internet, are just some of the topics covered by this educational content. In addition to the video training Digital Tools in the Function of Professional Development, participants are also provided with professional materials that they can download at any time, as well as the manual Children in the digital age.

After the implementation of this training, the realization of four more is planned:

► Supporting the well-being and resilience of preschool children

► Educating preschool children by providing support and establishing rules

► Support for families with preschool children from vulnerable groups

► Creating stimulating opportunities for the development and learning of children up to the age of three

All materials are available on the VIDEO TRAINING page, the website of the Inclusive Preschool Education Project.

After the implementation of training for project proposals within the second cycle of the Grant Program, which was attended by representatives from 22 municipalities, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia announced a competition at the end of 2019 and invite for project proposals to 27 municipality’s rankings. In the second cycle, municipalities that expressed interest in participating in the first round but did not receive a grant for various reasons were also invited, as well as new ones that were lower ranked on the list.

17 municipalities submitted their project proposals, and in the period from December 3^rd to January 20^th 2020, the Grants Approval Committee reviewed, evaluated, approved and returned for review all the submission of proposals according to the adopted procedure. After the final evaluation, it was proposed to finance the projects of 14 local governments. An official decision was soon made to award grants to finance projects to the following municipalities: Bela Palanka, Vladimirci, Vranje / Vranjska Banja, Velika Plana, Zitoradja, Krupanj, Knjazevac, Odzaci, Prijepolje, Ruma, Smederevska Palanka, Sombor, Titel, Cacak.

So far, a total of 34 local governments have funded projects under the grant program.

Funding for these projects has provided significant benefits for all children and their families, the local community, and the state administration in charge of preschool education.

All information of public importance related to the implementation of the grant program can be viewed here.