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.

The city of Zrenjanin and its partners in the yard of “Petar Petrovic Njegos” elementary school realized a promotional activity called “Big and small – we will be friends”, where parents were informed about the project “Inclusive preschool education and care – With a smile in the kindergarten” and it was promoted the importance of early development, children’s learning and inclusion in the preschool education system. Kindergarten children aged three to six and a half, as well as children who were not enrolled in kindergarten, as well as a few parents, educators, and professional associates participated in the promotional activity. Children who are already in kindergarten told and showed other children what they do in kindergarten with their friends and teachers and why it is important for them to enroll in kindergarten as early as possible.

Red Cross volunteers demonstrated first aid for injuries, and medical staff from the “Dr. Bosko Vrebalov” Health Center gave children and their parent’s advice and educational material on the topic of healthy eating.

During the duration of the Project, the preschool institution has developed different programs in its offer, which differ in form, duration, and program orientation. The short program “Breathe Deeply” was realized in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the City of Zrenjanin, the City Museum, and “Luca Atelier”. The goal of the short program was for children to get to know their emotions, to learn to channel them through creative workshops, and to play roles. The short program contributed to the greater availability of preschool services and provided support to families to improve parental competence, with a special emphasis on the participation of both parents. The workshops “A little bit, I a little bit, you, and we will win” in the kindergarten “Bambi” and “Autumn is another spring, where every leaf is actually a flower” in the yard of the kindergarten “Bambi” were also realized. The workshops were carried out by educators and an expert associate pedagogue for art education from a preschool institution. The goal of the workshop “A little bit of me, a little bit of you, and we will win” was harmonizing one’s desires and needs with the desires and needs of others, willingness to receive and give, as well as creating compromises and encouraging collaborative relationships among children, and the goal of the workshop “Autumn is another spring, where every leaf is actually a flower” was to encourage children to research using natural materials as a means of artistic expression. Children were active at the workshops, had the opportunity to participate in activities together with their parents, researched, learned through research in a new environment, and learned through play. The workshops were also attended by children who had not been included in any of the programs offered by the preschool.

Through talking with parents, we came to the conclusion that the project “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care – With a Smile in Kindergarten” provides the opportunity for parents to learn and develop their competencies, as well as that they are satisfied with the new way of working in terms of offering different programs, increasing the coverage of children, by promoting an inclusive policy as well as cooperation with the local community.

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As part of the Education and Teaching Aids Fair, at the stand of the Ministry of Education on Tuesday, October 25, visitors had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the ongoing reforms within the preschool system through a rich program – workshops, presentations, video materials, videos, and skits upbringing and education, which are implemented with the support of the Inclusive Preschool Education and Care project.

The program was intended for children and parents, educators, and educational workers, and aimed to present and introduce novelties in the preschool education system in a simple and practical way.

Numerous preschool institutions took an active part in the stand. Three Belgrade preschool institutions – “Dr. Sima Milosevic”, “Vracar” and “11th April” – allowed visitors to attend, but also to get involved in the game and research in which children, parents, and teachers participated.

The stand was equipped with various materials, objects, and accessories for painting, drawing, sculpting, instruments, senso – perceptive tables, but also digital technology tools. Children and adults together, through play, explored colors, shapes, sound, and different materials, but also used bee bot robots and the possibilities to include them in their game.

At the stand, Jelena and Novak Djokovic organized a meeting and conversation with children from the preschool institution “Decji Dani” from Belgrade, from the municipality of Stari Grad. On that occasion, representatives of the Novak Djokovic Foundation, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, realized a workshop for parents “Ways of encouraging emotional literacy in children” and presented the “Support, not perfection” program.

Educators, professional associates, and the director presented the model of Joint learning through modeling, through an exchange in the kindergarten, which has developed an inspiring practice for learning. Everything was accompanied by a poster with photos from the kindergarten and a slide show through which the joint learning of children and adults in the center of the “Zemunski Biser” cluster was presented.

The program of support for preschool institutions in the introduction of the new program concept “Years of Ascension” was presented, as well as other support for improving the quality of preschool upbringing and education.

At the stand, visitors were directly presented with guides and manuals for practitioners in preschool institutions created for the support, and at the same time, the concept and importance of parenting fairs organized by the Ministry in cooperation with local governments were presented.

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In May 2021, the Ministry of Education concluded a Cooperation Agreement with the “Novak Djokovic” Foundation.

The subject of the Agreement was joint involvement in adaptations/renovations and furnishing of existing premises in public property, for the needs of preschool education.

For this purpose, the Ministry allocated 2 million euros from the World Bank loan, and it was planned to dedicate at least 100 rooms for educational work by the end of 2022.

It started from the assumption that by renovating and equipping free classrooms in rural schools or local communities, and common rooms at preschool institutions, with relatively small investments and in a relatively short period of time, we can get a significant number of new places. This idea bore fruit.

Now, as the year 2022 draws to a close, it is clear that this partnership has exceeded its own plans and expectations. Through the joint efforts of the project team of the ministry and the team of the “Novak

Djokovic” Foundation, in less than a year and a half, over 130 rooms in 30 cities and municipalities across Serbia were opened for use. By the end of the year, about 30 more rooms are expected to be handed over, all within the originally planned budget.

Cities and municipalities in which the adaptation and/or equipping of new premises for educational work was financed:

1. City of Belgrade, Municipality of Vracar, PU “Vracar”, Kindergarten “Vracarac” (6 rooms)

2. Municipality of Svilajnac, PU “Decja radost”, kindergarten in Kusiljevo (3 rooms)

3. City of Belgrade, Municipality of Stari Grad, PU “Decji dani”, kindergartens “Lola” and “Leptiric” (4 rooms)

4. Municipality of Obrenovac, PU “Perka Vicentijevic” (8 rooms)

5. Municipality of Nova Varos, PU “Pasa i Nataca” (3 rooms)

6. Municipality of Doljevac, PU “Lane” (4 rooms)

7. Municipality of Vladicin Han, PU “Pcelica” (3 rooms)

8. Municipality of Raca, PU “Nasa radost” (9 rooms)

9. City of Belgrade, Municipality of Cukarica, PU “Cukarica” ​​(13 rooms equipped)

10. Municipality of Apatin, PU “Pcelica” (1 room)

11. Municipality of Cajetina, PU “Radost” (4 rooms)

12. Municipality of Batocina, PU “Poletarac” (1 room)

13. Municipality of Pecinci, PU “Vlada Obradovic Kameni” (10 rooms equipped)

14. City of Belgrade, Municipality of Zemun, PU “Dr. Sima Milosevic” (3 rooms furnished)

15. Municipality of Zagubica, PU “Poletarac” (3 rooms)

16. City of Pancevo, PU “Decja radost”, kindergarten “Ljiljan” (2 rooms)

17. Town of Pancevo, a village of Dolovo, elementary school “Aksentije Maksimovic” (3 rooms)

18. Municipality of Sjenica, PU “Maslacak” (7 rooms equipped)

19. The City of Sremska Mitrovica, PU “Pcelica” (4 rooms furnished)

20. Municipality of Vlasotince, PU “Milka Dimanic” (3 rooms)

21. Municipality of Velika Plana, PU “Decje Carstvo”, a village of Bresje (1 room)

22. Municipality of Velika Plana, PU “Decje Carstvo”, Veliko Orasje village (2 rooms)

23. City of Dimitrovgrad, PU “8. September”, Kindergarten “Pcelica” (3 rooms)

24. The City of Nis, settlement Novo selo, JPU “Pcelica” (5 rooms furnished)

25. Municipality of Raska, PU “Veselo detinjstvo”, village of Milatkovice (3 rooms)

26. Municipality of Brus, PU “Pahuljice”, Zlatari village (1 room)

27. Municipality of Opovo, PU “Bambi” (2 rooms)

28. Municipality of Vladimirci, PU “Suncokreti”, a village of Debrc (3 furnished rooms)

29. Municipality of Bac, PU “Kolibri”, Bodjani village (1 room)

30. Municipality of Pozega, PU “Olga Jovicic Rita”, Zdravcici village (2 rooms)

31. City of Belgrade, Municipality of Novi Belgrade – Bezanijska kosa, PU “11th April” (13 rooms equipped)

You can see the photos here.