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.

Within the project “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” implemented by the Ministry of Education, with a loan from the World Bank, four rooms were furnished in PU “Poletarac” in the Municipality of Secanj. The preschool institution began operating in October 1994.

The preschool institution has been established across the network, encompassing purpose-built buildings in inhabited places such as Krajisnik, Jasa Tomic, Jarkovac, and Secanj. Additionally, facilities have been adapted and adjusted in elementary schools in Boka, Neuzina, Sutjeska, Konak, Surjan, and Banatska Dubica.

Enrollment in the institution includes about 300 children, and since 2017, nursery groups have been introduced, filling a gap that did not exist before.

As part of the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project, the Ministry of Education, using funds from the World Bank loan, allocated resources to fully equip four rooms in PU “Poletarac.” This initiative will enable the enrollment of 50 preschool-age children and 30 nursery-age children. Consequently, the waiting list in Secanj has been completely eliminated.

The furnished rooms are equipped with furniture, toys, didactic materials, consumables, picture books, and books, carefully chosen with special attention to the needs of the respective age groups.

You can see the photos here.

As part of the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project implemented by the Ministry of Education, with a loan from the World Bank, two classrooms in Elementary School “Milica Milosevic” in the village of Jagnjilo, municipality of Mladenovac, were converted into classrooms and equipped with furniture and didactics necessary for educational work with preschool-age children.

The Mladenovac Preschool was founded in 1966. Currently, the institution comprises five facilities and 16 preparatory four-hour preschool groups, known as “small schools,” accommodating over 1300 children. However, there is a waiting list of 300 children. Under the management of the preschool institution, there are also 11 preparatory groups of preschool children, the so-called “small schools,” in 11 rural local communities, with activities organized in the premises of primary schools.

Preparatory groups operate in Jagnjilo, Rabrovac, Velika Ivanca, Markovac, Pruzatovac, Medjuluzje, Koracica, Sepsin, Senaja, Vlaska, and Dubona.

As part of the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project, the Ministry of Education, using funds from the World Bank loan, allocated resources to fully equip two classrooms. This initiative will enable the enrollment of 50 preschool-age children. The rooms are furnished with furniture, toys, didactic materials, consumables, picture books, and books, selected with special attention to the needs of the respective age groups. You can see the photos here.

Contracts for the financing and construction of three new kindergartens in Aleksandrovac, Arandjelovac, and Prijepolje were signed today by the Minister of Education, Ph.D. Slavica DJukic Dejanovic, Mirko Mihajlovic, president of the temporary governing body of the Aleksandrovac municipality, Bojan Radovic, president of the Arandjelovac municipality, Drago Popadic, a member of the temporary governing body of the Prijepolje municipality, and representatives of the contractors.

The construction of these three new kindergartens will provide 500 new places for preschool children, with a total investment value exceeding 407 million dinars.

In Aleksandrovac, the new facility, with an investment of more than 179 million dinars, will cover an area of over 1,500 square meters, providing 180 new places for children. The construction of a new kindergarten in Prijepolje will offer 200 new places, occupying an area of more than 1300 square meters, with an investment value exceeding 142 million dinars. Meanwhile, the new facility in Arandjelovac will open its doors for 120 children. More than 86 million dinars will be invested in the construction of this building, and the area of the planned building is more than 800 square meters.

Minister of Education Ph.D. Slavica DJukic Dejanovic emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to improving the preschool education system.

“By expanding capacity, investing in improving quality and availability, as well as special activities related to the inclusion of children, especially those from socially sensitive groups, in the system of preschool education and care. By building three new facilities, we will create the conditions for receiving 500 more children, providing concrete support to the local government, and, above all, to parents and their children. We are investing in the youngest because we are investing in the future,” said the minister.

Dr. Mirko Mihajlovic, president of the temporary authority of the municipality of Aleksandrovac, stated that this is a great day for the municipality, solving the perennial problem of a lack of places for a large number of children in kindergarten.

Bojan Radovic, president of the municipality of Arandjelovac, mentioned that the signing of the agreement on financing and building a new “Sunce” kindergarten, with a capacity for more than a hundred children, will create space for additional child enrollment.

“The implementation of this project will solve the long-term issue of capacity and accommodation of children from the territory of the municipality of Arandjelovac, significantly improving the quality of services provided by Preschool Duga,” he said.

Drago Popadic, a member of the temporary governing body of the municipality of Prijepolje, noted that after almost four decades, the municipality will get a new kindergarten with 200 new places for preschool children.

“In addition to the complete abolition of the waiting list for all future generations, the construction of a new kindergarten will create the conditions for preschool education to take place in adequate conditions in all other facilities of PU “Misa Cvijovic” in Prijepolje, where children will enjoy learning and feel safe while acquiring new experiences, providing parents with peace of mind and security,” he said.

The “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” program, within which new kindergartens are being built—23 facilities in 22 local governments, providing 11,000 new places, pays special attention to improving preschool education and care through the introduction of new program basics, as well as enhancing the knowledge and skills of professional staff through mentoring support and training for more than 20 thousand educators. An important aspect of the program is the inclusion of children from the earliest age. The Ministry of Education, to encourage the partnership of preschool institutions and local institutions in the field of inclusive preschool upbringing and education, provided grants for 34 projects, worth one million and 800 thousand euros. These funds are intended to support families with small children, especially those from vulnerable social groups. The total value of the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project is 47 million euros.

You can see the photos here.

As part of the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project implemented by the Ministry of Education, financed with a loan from the World Bank, four educational rooms were equipped in “Decije Carstvo” Preschool in the municipality of Velika Plana.

The preschool institution “Decije Carstvo” has been in existence since 1977, providing educational services for children aged 1 to 6 years. The institution operates in a total of 53 educational groups across various facilities within the entire municipality. In the current year, a total of 1146 children were enrolled.

Through the “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” project, the capacities of “Decije Carstvo” were expanded, addressing waiting lists for specific facilities and significantly improving the quality of space and conditions for children in kindergartens.

The Ministry of Education, utilizing funds from the World Bank loan through the project “Inclusive Preschool Upbringing and Education,” allocated resources to fully equip four classrooms. This initiative enables the enrollment of 50 preschool-age children and 30 nursery-age children. The equipment also extends to rural areas, specifically Lozovik and Donja Livadica. With the support of the Ministry of Education, the preschool institution and the municipality of Velika Plana continuously work to enhance the fairness and availability of preschool education for children from vulnerable groups.

The classrooms are furnished with carefully selected furniture, toys, didactic materials, consumables, picture books, and books, all tailored to meet the specific needs of different age groups.

You can see the photos here.