Minister of Education Prof. Dr Slavica Đukić Dejanović and the President of the temporary governing body of the municipality of Aleksandrovac Mirko Mihajlović on 17 January 2024 solemnly laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new kindergarten with a capacity of 180 places for children.

“By building new facilities, we will create conditions for the admission of new children from the territory of the Aleksandrovac municipality to the system of preschool upbringing and education, which will support the local self-government, parents and children. Increasing the number of children, as well as improving the quality of the preschool education system, is one of the strategic goals of the Ministry. We believe that investing in the youngest and their education is of great importance for their future, but also for society in general,” said the Minister of Education, prof. Dr. Slavica Đukić Dejanović.

The new facility will cover an area of ​​1,500 m2, and more than 179 million dinars will be invested in its construction from the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project, which is being implemented by the Ministry in cooperation with the World Bank.

The President of the temporary governing body of the municipality of Aleksandrovac, Mirko Mihajlović, said that the administration and the citizens of Aleksandrovac have long been waiting for the day for the construction of the new kindergarten facility.

“This investment is of great importance for the citizens of our municipality because there is a multi-decade problem of placing preschool children into kindergarten due to lack of space. First of all, we solve the social and pedagogical problem, and then also the problem of employment of parents who could not get a job because of taking care of their children at home. On this occasion, I would like to praise the vision and determination of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the relevant Ministry of Education, which has been assigned to the implementation of the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” program, and thank you for approving this project,” said Mihajlović.

The construction of the new kindergarten in Aleksandrovac is part of the “Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care” project. This project is implemented by the Ministry of Education in cooperation with the World Bank and with the support of local governments. The main goal is to increase the comprehensiveness of children through the construction of new and extension of existing kindergartens. This project will cover 23 facilities in 22 local governments, which will provide a total of 11,000 new places for children. Within the project, special attention is paid to the quality of the preschool education system through the improvement of the knowledge and skills of professional staff. An important aspect of the program is the inclusion of children from the earliest age, especially those from socially sensitive groups. The total project worth is 47 million euros.

You can see the photos here.

By signing the contract with the Government of the Republic of Serbia on December 21, 2023, the construction of four new kindergartens was announced in Kragujevac, Cacak, Alibunar, and Pecinci in 2008. The contracts were signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Slavica DJukic Dejanovic, the acting head of the City Administration for Development and Investments of Kragujevac, Dejan Ruzic, the deputy mayor of Cacak, Vladan Milic, the president of Alibunar municipality, Zorana Bratic, the president of Pecinci municipality, Sinisa DJokic, and representatives of contractors.

The construction of these four new kindergartens will provide a total of 690 new places for preschool-aged children, with a total investment value exceeding 510 million dinars.

The new kindergarten in the Kragujevac settlement of Erdec will provide 270 places for children, covering an area of 1,700 square meters, with an investment of about 200 million dinars.

For the new kindergarten in Cacak, over 110 million dinars have been allocated, providing 120 new places for children divided into six groups, covering an area of approximately 1,200 square meters.

In Alibunar, the construction of a new kindergarten will provide 220 new places for children, divided into 11 groups, with the facility covering about 1,450 square meters. The investment for this project is approximately 156 million dinars.

The extension of the existing facility in Pecinci will provide an additional 80 places for children divided into four groups, with the facility covering an area of about 560 square meters. The investment for this extension is valued at over 45 million dinars.

“By building new facilities and upgrading existing ones, the Ministry of Education continues to work towards fulfilling its strategic goal, which is the expansion of capacity and the improvement of the preschool education system at all levels.” With the signing of this agreement, we will provide 690 new places, and our ultimate goal is to offer 11,000 new places for children through the construction and adaptation of 23 kindergartens in 22 local governments, stated Minister of Education, Dr. Slavica DJukic Dejanovic. She also emphasized that these activities are part of the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project implemented by the Ministry of Education in cooperation with the World Bank and with the support of local governments.

Minister DJukic Dejanovic highlighted that inclusion is a crucial aspect of the project, with special funds allocated to improving the quality of the preschool education system. Training for employees of preschool institutions in Kragujevac, Cacak, and the municipalities of Alibunar and Pecinci is also provided.

Dejan Ruzic, Acting Mayor and head of the City Administration for Development and Investments of the City of Kragujevac, expressed delight at the news of the new kindergarten in Erdec, addressing the long-standing issue of insufficient capacity for children in preschool institutions in the city.

Vladan Milic, Deputy Mayor of Cacak, expressed gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Education for providing another kindergarten in a rural area, benefiting 15 local communities. He acknowledged the importance of the project for both children and parents and emphasized the effort made by the City of Cacak to ensure favorable conditions for the kindergarten’s construction.

Zorana Bratic, President of the Alibunar municipality, stated that the construction of a new kindergarten in Banatski Karlovac would resolve the long-standing problem of accommodation and residence for children in the area. She expressed gratitude to the government and the Ministry of Education for providing funds to improve the quality of services at the “Poletarac” Alibunar Preschool.

Sinisa DJokic, President of the Pecinci municipality, highlighted the municipality’s efforts to ensure sufficient kindergarten capacities in all 15 settlements, expressing thanks for the support from the Ministry of Education in addressing this important local issue.

The “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” program, encompassing the construction and adaptation of kindergartens, focuses on expanding capacity and enhancing the quality of preschool education. Special attention is given to the introduction of new program basics, improving the knowledge and skills of professional staff through mentoring support, and providing training for employees. The program emphasizes inclusion, particularly for children from socially vulnerable groups. The total value of the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project is 47 million euros.

You can see the photos here.

The new kindergarten of the “Nasa radost” preschool institution, providing 300 new places for children, was officially opened on December 8, 2023, in the Radinac settlement in the presence of Minister prof. dr Slavica DJukic Dejanovic and the president of the temporary authority of the city of Smederevo, Jasmina Vojinovic.

The construction and equipping of the new 1,600 m2 kindergarten were financed by the Ministry of Education with the support of the World Bank through the project “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” with 198.7 million dinars.

Minister of Education Slavica DJukic Dejanovic pointed out that the opening of another new kindergarten confirms that dedicated work is being done to create conditions for greater inclusion of children in the system of preschool upbringing and education. She also emphasized that the Ministry of Education pays special attention to the inclusion of children from vulnerable social groups.

“In Smederevo, 120 children from sensitive social groups, predominantly of Roma nationality, are included in the system of preschool education and care, while the number of such children in Serbia is about 4,000,” stated DJukic Dejanovic. She explained that the city of Smederevo received grants of 6 million dinars for these activities aimed at better integrating families and children of the Roma population into the preschool education system.

These funds were utilized to form three groups working with children in the settlements of Vranovo, Osipaonica and Papazovac. A vehicle was provided to transport children from distant places, along with a mobile team and IT equipment for workshops. Two rooms for working with children were renovated, furniture and didactic material were purchased, two groups were formed to work with parents, and professional support was provided by speech therapists and special education teachers. Additionally, professional training was provided for 31 teachers.

Jasmina Vojinovic, president of the temporary governing body of the city of Smederevo, highlighted that with the opening of this facility in Radinac, the so-called “waiting lists” have been reduced to a minimum, as the new kindergarten has a capacity of about 300 children. “In this way, the local self-government provides support for parenting and wants to contribute to the improvement of the future demographic image of Smederevo.”

“The newly opened kindergarten welcomes not only children from Radinac but also children from the surrounding villages of Mihajlovac, Vrbovac, Lipe, Vranovo, as well as parts of the city,” said Vojinovic.

She mentioned that the completion of the kindergarten in Skobalje and the opening of the kindergarten in Drugovac are planned for the next period, which will enable even greater coverage of children.

The construction of new facilities and investment in the quality of preschool education and training are part of the project “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care,” which the Ministry of Education is implementing with the support of the World Bank, in cooperation with local governments. An important area of the program is the inclusion of children from vulnerable social groups in the system of preschool education from the earliest age. This project will cover 23 facilities in 22 local governments, providing 11,000 new places for children, and more than 25,000 educators have undergone training and mentoring support. The total value of the project is 47 million euros.

You can see the photos here.

In the presence of Minister of the Interior Bratislav Gasic, the president of the temporary authority of Krusevac, Jasmine Parulovic, and Vesna Zivkovic, the director of PU “Nata Veljkovic,” Minister of Education Dr. Slavica Djukic Dejanovic solemnly opened the reconstructed and extended kindergartens “Golub mira” and “Labud” in Krusevac today, providing 160 new places for children.

The reconstruction and extension of both kindergartens, with a total investment of 58.5 million dinars, provided 80 new places for children, divided into 4 groups in both kindergartens. Additionally, an extra space with a total area of 1200 square meters was created. The Ministry of Education allocated more than 7.5 million dinars for equipping both buildings with didactic material.

The Ministry of Education is implementing systemic support for improving the quality of the preschool education system within the project “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care.” Training for the implementation of the new program concept was organized for the employees of the Preschool in Krusevac. Additional training and the exchange of knowledge and experience were also organized during visits to the clusters in Cacak and Pirot. The inclusive education team underwent training aimed at supporting the development of inclusive practices.

To enhance the quality of the preschool education system, additional funds were invested in the purchase of ICT equipment, worth more than 1.5 million dinars, and around 913 thousand dinars were provided for the purchase of low mobile furniture.

The funds from the project “Podrska deci i pododici – dobrobit za buducnost” are intended for adapting, renovating, and equipping two rooms with furniture and didactic material. They also support educational work with preschool children in the village of Veliki Siljegovac and the suburban settlement of Citluk, with a predominantly Roma population. This grant financed the formation of three new mixed groups of children in rural areas and the establishment of a Mobile Counseling Center in cooperation with a Preschool, a children’s dispensary, and the Center for Social Work. A passenger vehicle was purchased for the needs of the Mobile Counseling Center.

Through the program “Klub za decu i roditelje – Razigrano popodne,” implemented in the kindergartens “Neven” and “Pcelica” in the territory of the city of Krusevac, the competencies of children and parents, as well as other legal representatives, are strengthened through participation in workshops, forums, excursions, and visits to the theater. A total of 966 children are involved in these activities, and the number of parents, other family members, and legal representatives is almost 1400.

Over the past four years, during the implementation of the project, 318 children from Citluk, Veliki Siljegovac, and Konjuh were included in various programs, and 636 parents were supported through the project in various ways.

The construction of new facilities and investment in the quality of preschool education and training are part of the project “Inclusive Preschool Education and Training,” which the Ministry of Education is implementing with the support of the World Bank, in cooperation with local governments. An important aspect of the program is the inclusion of children from sensitive social groups in the system of preschool education and care from the earliest age, as well as the sensitization of parents and employees on this issue. This project will cover 23 facilities in 22 local governments, providing 11,000 new places for children, and over 20,000 educators have undergone training and mentoring support. The total value of the project is 47 million euros.

You can see the photos here.

Minister of Education Dr. Slavica DJukic Dejanovic and the president of the temporary authority of the city of Leskovac, Goran Cvetanovic, laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new kindergarten in the city today.

Approximately 102 million dinars will be invested in the construction of the new “Vukica Mitrovic” Preschool kindergarten, covering an area of 780 m2. The completion of the works is planned within eight months. The new facility will provide 120 additional places for children in the city, contributing to the reduction of the waiting list for preschool enrollment.

“The Ministry of Education, with the support of the World Bank, continues its diligent efforts to expand the capacity of preschool institutions throughout Serbia by constructing new ones and extending and adapting existing facilities. Our educational policy aims to include as many children as possible in the system of preschool education and care, especially those from socially sensitive groups. We also prioritize the quality of preschool education and care as the foundation for a successful future. Next year, we will gather again at this same place to open the doors of the new kindergarten for children from Leskovac,” said Minister of Education Slavica Djukic Dejanovic.

The minister highlighted that special attention has been given to the inclusion of children from vulnerable social groups in the system of preschool upbringing and education in Leskovac over the past four years.

“The implemented activities focused on improving the learning and development opportunities for children from rural areas, Roma communities, and those requiring additional support. The Ministry and the World Bank supported the local project ‘Razigraonica’ with 5.7 million dinars, hiring a teacher and a Roma mediator. Three new groups were formed to work with children aged 3.5 to 5 years in the rural areas of Brestovac, Turekovac, and Vinarac. These villages’ spaces were adapted and equipped with new furniture, didactic tools, and toys. Thanks to this support, about 300 children are now included in the system of preschool education and care,” said the minister. She added that parallel work was done with parents, organizing 20 workshops to improve their parenting skills.

“By laying the foundation stone for this, the 12th kindergarten within the preschool institution ‘Vukica Mitrovic,’ we demonstrate our persistence in providing all children with good conditions for a safe and happy childhood, with a specific emphasis on children from socially and economically disadvantaged social groups. I express gratitude to the Ministry of Education and the World Bank for realizing the ‘Inclusive Preschool Education and Upbringing’ project. This project, through various components, not only contributed to increased children’s inclusion but also focused on improving the knowledge and skills of professional staff through mentoring support and the application of new program foundations,” said the president of the temporary governing body of the city of Leskovac, Goran Cvetanovic.

The construction of new kindergartens is part of the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project implemented by the Ministry of Education with the support of the World Bank. This project is dedicated to increasing the capacity of preschool institutions throughout Serbia by providing 11,000 new places, as well as enhancing preschool upbringing and education through the introduction of new program basics, education of professional staff, mentoring support, and training for educators. An essential aspect of the program is the inclusion of children from the earliest age.

You can see the photos here.