Through the project “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” implemented by the Ministry of Education, the adaptation with the furnishing of ambient space for two work rooms in the separate department of the Elementary School “Emilija Ostojić” in Gorobilje has been carried out, and two more are in progress in Prilipac.

The preschool institution “Olga Jovicić Rita” in Požega was founded in 1965 (primarily at the Social Services Centre) and celebrates its 60th anniversary next year. Currently, the institution operates with 42 educational groups, accommodating 1042 children and approximately 157 staff members.

Within the town itself, the institution has three facilities, and since 2016, it has initiated a pilot project for full-day programs in separate departments of rural schools. The interest in enrolling children in rural schools at that time was unexpected and continues to show a trend of steady growth.  This step has created multifunctional benefits. Closed rural schools have started to regain their former glory and have become lively again. Young people are staying in rural environments, and employment rates in suitable kindergarten profiles have increased.

Today, we have eight rural schools with a full-day program from our preschool institution, forming twelve groups with over 170 children. It’s worth noting that there have been no capital investments in rural schools since the 1980s.

Through this project of the Ministry of Education and the World Bank, equipping four work rooms involving construction work and furnishing ambient space has unequivocally not only brought closer but also aligned the working space with European standards. The furniture was carefully selected according to age groups and standards, in line with spatial units that will evoke personal affinities, permanent engagement, and wonder in children. Didactics, consumables, and literature are in accordance with the new program foundations.

Thanks to these and similar projects in our country, we ensure quality upbringing and equal conditions for children wherever they are born on the map of Serbia. Children are the only true, unmissable investment that should be made.”

You can see the photos here.

Within the project “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” implemented by the Ministry of Education, financed by the World Bank loan, 7 educational rooms have been equipped in the kindergarten “Poletarac” Ljubovija.

The kindergarten “Poletarac” Ljubovija has been engaged in educational work continuously for over forty years, since its foundation in 1981 in a building constructed the same year.

In the academic year 2023/2024, a total of 254 children were enrolled, with 236 in full-day and 18 in half-day programs. In recent years, the institution has faced a space shortage for accommodating children. The number of newborns increases annually, leading to growing interest in kindergarten enrolment. In the latest enrolment competition, 40 preschool-aged children remained on the waiting list.

Over the decades, the institution has renovated within its capabilities, participated in various projects, conducted adaptations, and expanded capacities to admit more children. In the past decade, the Municipality of Ljubovija also faced two major floods that affected the kindergarten. The latest reconstruction in 2023 involved renovating the entire facility, necessitating the temporary relocation and subsequent return of all furniture, which further affected its wear and tear and quality.

The implementation of the Ministry of Education’s project ‘Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care’, which equipped educational rooms in the institution, is of great significance. It collectively ensures quality conditions, a healthy environment, and surroundings for every child attending the institution, aiming for their holistic development—intellectually, physically, and educationally—thus contributing to happier childhoods and a solid foundation for the future.

A total of seven rooms are fully equipped with furniture, didactic materials, and toys that are tailored to the needs and ages of the children attending the respective educational groups.

You can see the photos here.

Within the project “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” implemented by the Ministry of Education, financed by the World Bank loan, 2 work rooms have been equipped in the kindergarten ‘Arilje’, Municipality of Arilje.

The preschool institution ‘Arilje’ was founded in 1976.

The kindergarten’s location is ideal, surrounded by a large green area, centrally located among buildings and away from the street. The playground space exceeds the prescribed norms.

The institution’s main activities are governed by the Law on the Foundations of the Education System, the Law on Preschool Education, the Law on Public Services, and the Statute. Activities are carried out in three facilities at the headquarters and in separate facilities at primary schools in rural areas, with a capacity of around 650 children. The kindergarten has long faced problems due to lack of space for accommodating children. Currently, there are 150 children on the waiting list.

Through the World Bank loan, the Ministry of Education, under the project ‘Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care’, allocated part of the funds to fully equip 2 work rooms, enabling enrolment of an additional 30 preschool children. This contribution aims to reduce the number of children on the waiting list.

The rooms are equipped with furniture, toys, didactic materials, consumables, picture books, and books, carefully selected to meet the needs of different age groups.”

You can see the photos here.

As part of the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project implemented by the Ministry of Education, funded by a World Bank loan, 4 workrooms have been adapted and equipped in the “Srce” kindergarten at the “Miša Cvijović” Preschool Institution in the municipality of Prijepolje.

The preschool institution in Prijepolje began operating in 1968. Approximately 1,100 children are enrolled in the “Miša Cvijović” preschool institution, distributed across 5 facilities and 5 detached elementary school departments, which is a total of 48 groups. Currently, there are 89 children on the waiting list.

At the beginning of 2024, construction will begin on a new facility in the Bostani settlement will begin, with a capacity of 10 groups, accommodating 200 children.

Brodarevo is a multiethnic area with 30 villages and 69 hamlets, home to around 10,000 inhabitants. The “Srce” facility was built in 1987 and is located in the Brodarevo neighbourhood, 25 km from Prijepolje, and is the only kindergarten in the Brodarevo area. The “Srce” facility has 120 children enrolled, aged from 1 to 6.5 years, including children from rural and remote villages. The children have access to full-day, half-day, and flexible programs funded by the ECEC Project Grant Program.

The children have equal opportunities for learning and development. Through participation in the programs, the children have the chance to be happy, feel satisfied, fulfilled, and accepted, and build relationships of trust and respect, closeness, and confidence.

Considering that the children have been in inadequate and unequipped spaces for many years, thanks to the Ministry of Education through the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project, after 37 years, the children and staff are now in one of the most modernly equipped facilities of the “Miša Cvijović” preschool institution. This donation and capacity expansion have eliminated the waiting list for child enrolment.

The Ministry of Education, through a World Bank loan, has allocated part of the funds and completely renovated and equipped 4 workrooms, allowing for the enrolment of approximately 90 children, 75 preschool-aged children, and 15 nursery-aged children.

The rooms have been equipped with furniture, toys, didactic materials, consumables, picture and books, chosen with special attention to the needs of the age groups.

Additionally, all rooms underwent space adaptation, including plastering, painting, repairing and replacing damaged parquet, and sanding. The hallways in front of the rooms have been adapted with new floors and wall coverings. Four bathrooms have been renovated, a new water supply and sewage network for all toilets have been installed, floors have been done, and worn-out sanitary ware has been replaced.

You can see the photos here.

Minister of Education, Prof. Dr. Slavica Djukic Dejanovic, the President of the Arandjelovac Municipality, Bojan Radovic, and the President of the Municipal Assembly of Arandjelovac, Nikola Obradovic, laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new kindergarten in this town. Minister Djukic Dejanovic stated that the Government of the Republic of Serbia is committed to improving the quality and modernization of education, which requires better conditions for work and learning through infrastructure projects.

“Therefore, education holds a special place in the ‘Leap into the Future Serbia – 2027’ project, as evidenced today by the construction of a new kindergarten in Arandjelovac,” said the Minister of Education, adding that the new facility will provide 120 new places for children.

“The plan is to build 23 facilities in 22 local governments, providing an additional 11,000 places for children in kindergartens. In this way, support is given to local governments, as well as to parents and children,” she emphasized. According to her, the new facility will cover approximately 800 square meters, and 86 million dinars have been allocated for its construction.

“By building the new kindergarten, we are ensuring incomparably better conditions for the children and staff of the ‘Duga’ Preschool Institution. When the works on the ‘Sunce 2’ kindergarten are completed, we will have space for organizing work with six educational groups, which will allow additional enrolment of children and greatly facilitate the work of the ‘Duga’ Preschool Institution. The municipality of Arandjelovac expresses great gratitude to the Ministry of Education and the entire Government of the Republic of Serbia for the tremendous help and allocated funds provided through the relevant ministries in recent years. Capital investments in various projects of vital importance for the development of Arandjelovac have enabled our municipality to progress, develop, and address fundamentally important issues of interest to all citizens,” said the President of the Municipality, Bojan Radovic, on this occasion.

The Ministry of Education has provided systematic support to improving the quality of the preschool education system in the Republic of Serbia in the previous period. This support also extends to the Preschool Institution in Arandjelovac and its employees. Trainings were organized for the employees, along with practical experiences through visits to cluster centres to enhance skills and knowledge. Special attention was given to the Inclusive Education Team, for which the training was organized with the aim of supporting the development of inclusive practices. Trainings were provided to 60% of educators to improve their digital competencies. Special funds were allocated by the Ministry of Education for additional equipment for the “Duga” Preschool Institution with ICT equipment and low mobile furniture. In cooperation with the World Bank, the Ministry of Education is implementing the construction of new, expansion, adaptation, and equipping of existing facilities across Serbia within the framework of the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project. This Project will cover a total of 23 facilities, and the investment is valued at 47 million euros.

You can see the photos here.