The Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, within the framework of component 2 of the project “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care”, initiated and realized procurements with the aim of additionally equipping 107 preschool institutions with low mobile furniture and ICT equipment. The total value of both purchases is around one million euros (500,000 euros each).

In the period July – September, sets of 3 low mobile shelves were distributed to preschool institutions: 1. shelf/chest open on both sides, 2. mobile shelf/chest with tub, and 3. sensor-perceptive table – eight-seater, as well as sets of ICT equipment consisting of a laptop with software, computer mouse and laptop bag, web camera and multifunctional device (copier/printer/scanner).

The number of sets that a preschool institution received is determined by its size, that is, the number of educational groups.

The remaining preschool institutions (56, including all institutions participating in the SUPER project) are equipped with funds from IPA funds (IPA 2014) – furniture, didactic tools, and ICT equipment, in the total amount of about one million euros.

Additional equipping of preschool institutions represents additional complementary support for improving the conditions for quality preschool Education and Care, in addition to the Support Program for the implementation of the Basics of the Program – Years of Ascension, which includes training, mentoring support, the application of 2 models of horizontal learning of practitioners and manuals from the edition of Flight Lines.

We are convinced that low mobile furniture and information communication technology will be a significant support for practitioners in PU, both in structuring the space and in all areas of work of educators in accordance with the Basics of the preschool Education and Care program – “Godine uzleta”.

As part of the project “Inclusive preschool education and Care” implemented by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development in partnership with the Novak Djokovic Foundation, another 13 workrooms in the territory of the municipality of Novi Belgrade were equipped with a loan from the World Bank.

Novi Belgrade, one of the largest and most densely populated municipalities of Belgrade, is a modern urban municipality that is constantly expanding and receiving new residents who are oriented towards the search for new occupations, housing, education, aesthetic and social needs.

PU “11. April” is a place where 8,500 children live, learn and grow up together. The mission of this preschool institution is quality inclusive preschool Education and Care available to all children.

The settlement of Bezanijska kosa, as part of the municipality of Novi Beograd, is rapidly expanding. Although there are already two large combined kindergartens in this settlement, their capacities were not sufficient to meet the needs of an increasing number of young families for the inclusion of children in quality preschool programs.

For this reason, the City built a completely new facility, which has 13 work rooms, a kitchen, multifunctional halls, toilets, and rooms for educators, as well as a landscaped yard for outdoor activities. The plan is to form groups for all ages in this facility (3 younger nursery groups, 2 older nursery groups, 6 mixed groups, and 2 groups of preschoolers).

The capacity of this facility is up to 270 children, which will greatly reduce the number of excluded children.

In order for the facility to start working as soon as possible, the Novak Djokovic Foundation, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development, from the World Bank loan, through the project “Inclusive preschool education and Training”, allocated part of the funds and helped equip all 13 workrooms. All rooms are equipped in accordance with the needs of children, and educators and in accordance with the new basics of education.

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

Over 200 new children of all ages have been enrolled in all thirteen new groups in the territory of the municipality of Novi Belgrade, from the youngest nurseries to preschoolers, and the rooms are equipped in accordance with the needs of our youngest residents.

You can see other photos here.

As part of the “Inclusive Preschool Education” project implemented by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development in partnership with the Novak Djokovic Foundation, two more classrooms in the municipality of Pozega, in the village of Zdravcici, were adapted and equipped with a loan from the World Bank.

PU “Olga Jovicic Rita” enrolls over 950 children in over 40 educational groups, in three facilities in the city and four separate departments in rural areas. In the village of Zdravcici, within the separate department of Elementary School “Petar Lekovic”, there are two workrooms that have been given to the preschool institution for use.

There is a great need to increase the coverage of children, and PU is trying to include as many children as possible. Almost 200 children are exempt from paying for services, and special attention is paid to providing support to children from vulnerable categories.

The Novak Djokovic Foundation, together with the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development within the Inclusive Preschool Education project, recognized their need and adapted and completely equipped two 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 (one older nursery and one mixed group) 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.

50 new children between the ages of 1.5 and 5.5 were enrolled in the new groups on the territory of the municipality of Pozega, and the premises were adapted and equipped in accordance with the needs of our youngest residents.

You can see other photos here.

Organized by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and the city of Loznica, on October 1, 2022, the fourth Parenting Fair was held in the “Carolija” kindergarten, with the aim of providing support to families with children and spreading awareness of the importance of early inclusion and inclusion of all children in the system preschool upbringing and education.

The parenting fair was formally opened by Dr. Milan Pasic, Assistant Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development and Ljubinko Djokic, Assistant Mayor of Loznica.

Visitors to the Fair, about 300 parents with children, had the opportunity to get all the information in one place about the types of support provided by the local institutions of the city of Loznica, as well as to learn more about their rights and how to exercise them.

By participating in educational and interactive workshops, together with the children, parents had the opportunity to strengthen their parental competencies and to learn about the skills that support the happy and healthy growth and development of their little ones.

During the Fair, special attention was paid to families from sensitive social groups, through information on the possibilities for equal inclusion in the system of preschool education and upbringing.

You can see photos from the Parenting Fair here.

As part of the project “Inclusive preschool education and Care” implemented by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development in partnership with the Novak Djokovic Foundation, another study room in the territory of the Bac municipality, Bodjani village, was adapted and equipped with a loan from the World Bank.

The municipality of BaC is multinational – Serbs, Croats, Slovaks, Hungarians, Romanians, Roma and others live in it. For years, the municipality has been allocating significant funds for regressing the costs of education and upbringing, as well as for social and child protection. About 300 families in Bac are beneficiaries of social assistance.

PU “Kolibri” tries to include all children both from Bac and from the surrounding villages. The administration of PU strives to make integrated social care for children of preschool age equally accessible and adapted to each child, without discrimination and segregation on any basis, as well as to provide limited support to families with small children.

The kindergarten in the Bodjani neighborhood is located within the separate departments of the “Aleksa Santic” elementary school, and as part of the Inclusive preschool education project, the Novak Djokovic Foundation and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development adapted and completely equipped one study room.

Renovation works included the replacement of floors, carpentry, lighting, painting, procurement and installation of air conditioners.

The new, equipped space will be able to accommodate 25 children. The facility has one study room (mixed group) and is equipped in accordance with the needs of the group and in accordance with the new basics of education.

In addition to furniture that has been selected and adapted to a mixed-age group, the room is equipped with new toys, carpets, lazy bags, easels for painting, books and necessary consumables.

In the new group in the territory of the municipality of Bac, 25 new children aged 3 to 5.5 years were enrolled and the room is equipped in accordance with the needs of our youngest residents.

You can see other photos here.