CAPACITY EXPANSION AND ASSISTANCE TO PRACTITIONERS

The locations for the renovation of classrooms are mainly located in remote, rural areas, thus improving both the accessibility and equity of preschool education. The “Inclusive Preschool Education” project, implemented by the Ministry of Education  to improve the quality and accessibility of the preschool education system, continues this school year.

As part of the planned activities of adapting new spaces and repurposing them for educational work with children, 73 classrooms and 60 accompanying toilets will be renovated in 29 local government units in the coming period, the project leaders announced.

“The locations for the renovation of the classrooms are mainly located in remote, rural areas, thus improving both the accessibility and equity of preschool education. Considering that since 2021, more than 300 classrooms have been provided through the repurposing, renovation and equipping of premises, a total of 400 rooms will be renovated by adapting and renovating additional rooms by November 30, 2024, thereby increasing the capacity of the preschool education system by more than 8,000 new places,” say those responsible for the “Inclusive Preschool Education” Project.

The summer has been busy for them. In mid-June, a newly built kindergarten within the Preschool Institution “Poletarac” was opened in Merošina, which covers an area of ​​approximately 640 square meters and in whose construction more than 53 million dinars were invested. The construction of this facility has provided 80 new places for children, who will be divided into four groups. With the construction of this facility, we continue to implement our educational policy, which aims to increase the coverage of children by the preschool education system. The Ministry of Education provides support to parents, local governments, as well as our youngest citizens, because by investing in their education, we create the basis for a healthy and happy childhood, and therefore a successful future – said the State Secretary at the Ministry of Education Zoran Kasalović, at the opening of the kindergarten. In the coming period, the construction and equipment of 12 more kindergartens is expected to be completed, in Prijepolje, Novi Pazar, Kragujevac, Čačak, Arandjelovac, Aleksandrovac, Alibunar, Pećinci, Leskovac, Petrovac na Mlavi, Ćićevac and Prokuplje.

In addition to expanding the capacity of preschool institutions, the Project pays special attention to improving the quality of the preschool education system, and several activities were carried out during the summer with this goal in mind.

In the previous period, the Ministry, in cooperation with UNICEF, organized a new cycle of regional expert consultations with educational advisors, which were also joined by advisors – external associates for preschool education from all school administrations. Educational advisors at the level of each school administration were tasked with agreeing on which preschool institutions whose practitioners needed priority support for further quality implementation of the Foundations of the Preschool Education Program “Years of Take-Off” and improving the quality of work (and ensuring that the number of kindergartens falls within the established 25 percent).

Through this Project, the Ministry organized 12 two-day regional expert 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.

The meetings were attended by around 380 professional associates of all profiles (psychologists, pedagogues, physical education, music, art and speech therapists), and were held in Belgrade, Fruska Gora, Kragujevac, Vranje, Čačak, Niš and Šabac. As a continuation of the activities aimed at connecting the preschool and primary school systems, 10 one-day horizontal exchange and consultation meetings “On a shared path of learning” were held between practitioners from preschool institutions and primary schools, in which 300 educators and teachers participated.

The consultation had two parts – presenting examples of good transition practice by practitioners from both levels of the system and presenting experiences and insights from mutual visits of practitioners to kindergartens and schools.

Within both parts, participants were presented with three presentations prepared by educators/teachers/professional associates from kindergartens and/or schools, after which a panel discussion was held.

The authors of all presentations are practitioners in the field of preschool and primary education who have experience and examples of inspiring practice in transitional activities in their institutions, and are also moderators of the online training “On a shared learning path”.