Within the framework of the project “Inclusive Preschool Education” implemented by the Ministry of Education, with a loan from the World Bank, three study rooms were adapted in the Primary Educational Institution “Naša radost”, Municipality of Krupanj, in Bela Crkva, Kostajnik and Dvorska.
The main activity of the institution is realized through the implementation of full-day stay from nursery to PPP, Preparatory Preschool Program for 4 hours, as permanent forms of work and through various types of special and other forms of work and services. In the working year 2024/2025. the institution uses the central facility in Krupanj and 9 study rooms at primary schools in the territory of the municipality of Krupanj. The total number of groups in which the activity is carried out is 19, and includes a total of 385 children.
Given that children have been living in inadequately equipped premises for many years, thanks to the Ministry of Education, through the project “Inclusive Preschool Education”, children and employees now live in spaces that have been renovated with high quality and functionality. This donation has improved the conditions for living and working with children.
The Ministry of Education, through a loan from the World Bank, through the project “Inclusive Preschool Education”, allocated part of the funds and adapted 3 study rooms, thus enabling children from rural areas to have the same living conditions as their peers in urban facilities.
This is not an investment only in children who are currently in kindergarten, but also in future generations, who will grow and develop in it.
Also, space adaptation works have been carried out in all rooms in the form of whitewashing, replacement and installation of new vinyl floors, repair, replacement and planing of parquet. A toilet for our youngest children was added to each room. Old and worn-out windows and all interior joinery were replaced in all three locations in Bela Crkva, Dvorska and Kostajnik. More than 5 million dinars were invested in the works for the complete adaptation.

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The Ministry of Education, within the project “Inclusive Preschool Education”, has completed the adaptation of the space within the “Ivo Lola Ribar” Primary School in Veliko Gradište, as part of the building in the regional department in the village of Požeženo. This space was previously a teacher’s apartment, and for several years the space had no purpose. The space was adapted with the aim of housing a preschool group in the village of Požeženo. The works, worth over 3 million dinars, included the complete adaptation of the space of the former apartment (a room, a hallway, a bathroom, another smaller room, and an external staircase or entrance to the building). Some redundant walls were demolished, The rest were completely renovated, the ceilings were lowered, new floors were installed, the bathroom was completely renovated and the sanitary
units were installed, the entrance to the building was renovated, and the electrical installation.

All this was done to create a safe and stimulating environment for preschool children. Playing and spending time with peers from the earliest days are very important for the proper growth and development of every child. Through the implementation of this project, we have created an adequate environment for children to learn and spend time. The group is planned to accommodate about 20 children aged 3 to school age, who live in this village.
In the new space, children will have the conditions for quality care as well as for developing a realistic program in accordance with the Program Foundations.

During the works, the municipality of Veliko Gradiste decided to co-finance the project and allocated additional funds for the adaptation of the adjacent classroom for lower-grade children, which enabled the renovation of a practically complete building and the provision of high-quality and safe space for children.

Photos before the reconstruction:

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Photos during the work:

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Photos after the work is completed:

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You can see photos before, during and after the adaptation here.

On October 31, 2024, the Minister of Education, Prof. Dr. Slavica Đukić Dejanović, addressed the participants of the Expert Consultation of Deans and Directors of Higher Education Institutions Educating TEACHERS for Work in Preschool Institutions and stated that the activities of the Ministry, as well as partner institutions, institutions and organizations dealing with preschool education, are aimed at connecting and cooperating, which will contribute to improving the quality of preschool education.

“In the previous period, we initiated activities to improve the initial education of preschool teachers, especially in segments related to the implementation of professional practice, and we also worked on harmonizing study programs in accordance with the Standards of Competence for the Preschool Teacher Profession and its Professional Development,” said the Minister.

Đukić Dejanović added that in addition, an analysis of study programs was carried out on key subjects of study programs that educate preschool teachers to work in preschool institutions.

“Proposals have been prepared for improving the Standards for Accreditation of Study Programs for the Education of Preschool Teachers. These proposals have been finalized with members of the National Body for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education and the Commission for Accreditation and Quality Assurance. We expect that higher education institutions that educate preschool teachers will implement the recommendations of the Ministry in the next accreditation process, because in accordance with the Action Plan for the Education Strategy, it is planned that 28 accredited study programs for the education of teachers and preschool teachers will be amended or re-accredited according to the revised standards for the accreditation of study programs by 2026,” said the Minister.

She emphasized that significant changes have begun and that it is important that all relevant participants share the same values ​​and vision for the further development of the preschool education system, which is a prerequisite for the sustainability of changes and solving challenges from which we have the opportunity to learn, change, cooperate, research and act in the interest of preschool education.

In addition to representatives of the Ministry of Education, the National Body for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education and the Commission for Accreditation and Quality Assurance, the Institute for Quality Assessment of Education and the Institute for the Improvement of Education, the expert consultation brought together around 100 participants from public universities and faculties that educate educators, representatives of preschool institutions, professional associations in preschool and primary education.

The Ministry of Education, within the framework of the Inclusive Preschool Education project, with financial support from the World Bank, provides support for the improvement of initial teacher education as part of the reform processes in the preschool education system initiated by the adoption of the Standards of Competencies for the Preschool Education Profession and the adoption of the Foundations of the Preschool Education Program “Godine uzleta”.

You can view the photos here.

You can view the report from the conference here.

The locations for the renovation of classrooms are mainly located in remote, rural areas, thus improving both the accessibility and equity of preschool education. The “Inclusive Preschool Education” project, implemented by the Ministry of Education  to improve the quality and accessibility of the preschool education system, continues this school year.

As part of the planned activities of adapting new spaces and repurposing them for educational work with children, 73 classrooms and 60 accompanying toilets will be renovated in 29 local government units in the coming period, the project leaders announced.

“The locations for the renovation of the classrooms are mainly located in remote, rural areas, thus improving both the accessibility and equity of preschool education. Considering that since 2021, more than 300 classrooms have been provided through the repurposing, renovation and equipping of premises, a total of 400 rooms will be renovated by adapting and renovating additional rooms by November 30, 2024, thereby increasing the capacity of the preschool education system by more than 8,000 new places,” say those responsible for the “Inclusive Preschool Education” Project.

The summer has been busy for them. In mid-June, a newly built kindergarten within the Preschool Institution “Poletarac” was opened in Merošina, which covers an area of ​​approximately 640 square meters and in whose construction more than 53 million dinars were invested. The construction of this facility has provided 80 new places for children, who will be divided into four groups. With the construction of this facility, we continue to implement our educational policy, which aims to increase the coverage of children by the preschool education system. The Ministry of Education provides support to parents, local governments, as well as our youngest citizens, because by investing in their education, we create the basis for a healthy and happy childhood, and therefore a successful future – said the State Secretary at the Ministry of Education Zoran Kasalović, at the opening of the kindergarten. In the coming period, the construction and equipment of 12 more kindergartens is expected to be completed, in Prijepolje, Novi Pazar, Kragujevac, Čačak, Arandjelovac, Aleksandrovac, Alibunar, Pećinci, Leskovac, Petrovac na Mlavi, Ćićevac and Prokuplje.

In addition to expanding the capacity of preschool institutions, the Project pays special attention to improving the quality of the preschool education system, and several activities were carried out during the summer with this goal in mind.

In the previous period, the Ministry, in cooperation with UNICEF, organized a new cycle of regional expert consultations with educational advisors, which were also joined by advisors – external associates for preschool education from all school administrations. Educational advisors at the level of each school administration were tasked with agreeing on which preschool institutions whose practitioners needed priority support for further quality implementation of the Foundations of the Preschool Education Program “Years of Take-Off” and improving the quality of work (and ensuring that the number of kindergartens falls within the established 25 percent).

Through this Project, the Ministry organized 12 two-day regional expert meetings, with the aim of supporting the professional development of professional associates of all profiles as reflective practitioners whose role is to lead change through the development of democratic, inclusive and reflective practice.

The meetings were attended by around 380 professional associates of all profiles (psychologists, pedagogues, physical education, music, art and speech therapists), and were held in Belgrade, Fruska Gora, Kragujevac, Vranje, Čačak, Niš and Šabac. As a continuation of the activities aimed at connecting the preschool and primary school systems, 10 one-day horizontal exchange and consultation meetings “On a shared path of learning” were held between practitioners from preschool institutions and primary schools, in which 300 educators and teachers participated.

The consultation had two parts – presenting examples of good transition practice by practitioners from both levels of the system and presenting experiences and insights from mutual visits of practitioners to kindergartens and schools.

Within both parts, participants were presented with three presentations prepared by educators/teachers/professional associates from kindergartens and/or schools, after which a panel discussion was held.

The authors of all presentations are practitioners in the field of preschool and primary education who have experience and examples of inspiring practice in transitional activities in their institutions, and are also moderators of the online training “On a shared learning path”.

According to the Strategy for the Development of Education in the Republic of Serbia until 2030 and the Action Plan, the desired state in the field of preschool education (PE) implies further development of the PE system to meet the needs of children and families as a support for the well-being and comprehensive development of preschool children, and by the principles of PE (accessibility, democracy, openness, authenticity, development) through, among other things, and

achieving smooth transitions, i.e. ensuring continuity of experiences of children and families in the educational context and developing relationships with other parts of the education system (schools), the community (cultural, health, social welfare institutions), local government and the wider social community;

Within the framework of Component 2 of the Ministry of Education’s project “Inclusive Preschool Education” since 2022, a large number of activities have been implemented aimed at strengthening the partnership between the two levels of the education system (preschool and primary school) and stronger connections through the recognition of common values ​​in building support for children and families during the transition from kindergarten to school (training creation; online training for around 3,200 professional associates and teachers from primary schools (ES); 8 consultations attended by over 400 directors of preschool and primary schools and educational advisors from all ES.

As a continuation of these activities, to initiate a dialogue on the strengths and challenges in building a partnership between the two levels of the education system as a prerequisite for achieving continuity of support for children and families, 10 one-day horizontal exchange meetings were implemented in the period April – May 2024. – Consultations “On a shared path of learning” between practitioners from preschool institutions (PU) and primary schools, attended by over 300 educators and teachers.

The consultation agenda was created by Prof. Dr. Sanja Blagdanić from the Faculty of Teacher Education in Belgrade and Katarina Đurić, expert associate – psychologist at the PU “Čukarica” with the support of Component 2 of the Project and UNICEF.

The consultation had 2 parts – presenting examples of good transition practices by practitioners from both levels of the system and presenting experiences and insights from mutual visits of practitioners to kindergartens and schools.

Within both parts, participants were presented with 3 presentations prepared by educators/teachers/expert associates from kindergartens and/or schools, followed by a panel discussion.

Examples of inspiring transitional practice were selected based on the following criteria:
● affirmatively demonstrate the partnership between preschool and primary school, with an emphasis on active connection and recognition of common values ​​in building support for children and families;
● support continuity in education and promote the unity of primary school and preschool as places of research and learning for preschool and school-age children;
● have the potential for reflection and joint learning in horizontal exchanges;
● concisely, concretely, and vividly present authentic experiences of inspiring practice.
The authors of all presentations are practitioners in the field of preschool and primary education who have experience and examples of inspiring practice in transitional activities in their institutions; they are also moderators of the online training “Common path of learning”.

The participants of the consultation expressed their satisfaction with the opening of a dialogue between the two levels of the system and their desire to continue cooperation and exchange to build a partnership in achieving continuity of support for children and families in the transition to the next level of education while respecting the strengths and potential of both levels of the education system and taking into account the changes initiated at the level of the PVE.

You can see the photos here.