COOPERATION BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND NOVAK DJOKOVIC FOUNDATION

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and the Novak Djokovic Foundation signed an Agreement on Partnership Cooperation on the Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care project.

The cooperation means that the Ministry and the Foundation will join the capacities in the next two years and together adapt and equip the rooms in public facilities, which will be intended for the realization of preschool education.

“Setting up a good foundation of education from the earliest age is important, not only for the socialization of children, but also for their further successful schooling. The Novak Djokovic Foundation has been implementing its own programs for years now, which are aimed at better conditions for the realization of preschool education. In this case, we will use their knowledge and experience and unite to provide good conditions for an even larger number of children, especially from socially and economically vulnerable social groups, to be included in the system of preschool education, “said the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Science and technological development Branko Ruzic.

The plan is to adapt and equip at least 100 rooms for the realization of preschool education in public facilities and existing preschool institutions by the end of 2022. The works will be financed from the Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Project, which is financed by the World Bank, while the Foundation will coordinate activities on renovation, conversion and adaptation of those spaces and equipping them with furniture and didactic material.

“Guided by the desire to provide our youngest generations with a stimulating environment to play and learn in order to develop their full potential, our team has so far reconstructed, equipped and helped 45 kindergartens throughout Serbia. This way, we have encouraged the development of local communities themselves, which in the long run contributes to a better future for all of us. However, the numbers show that there is still a long way to go to ensure that every child in Serbia has access to preschool education. That is why we are very glad that, thanks to our many years of experience, we have gained the trust of the Ministry to help them on that path and we are sure that with the partnership with the World Bank the project will be successfully realized, “said Maja Kremic, National Director of the Novak Djokovic Foundation.

Within this cooperation, the Foundation will implement a program of support for parents and guardians of children under the age of 6 in all municipalities where there will be a renovation and adapted space for educational work.

Cooperation with the Foundation will additionally support the efforts of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development to improve the system of preschool education and to carry out the educational process in even better conditions.

In the first year of cooperation, works are planned in 20 local governments: Doljevac, Vlasotince, Vladicin Han, Varvarin, Trstenik, Brus, Kraljevo, CaCak, Obrenovac, Stari Grad, Jagodina, Batocina, Svilajnac, Raca, Velika Plana, Bac, Apatin , Sid, Nova Varos, Cajetina.