SUPPORT TO PRESCHOOL INSTITUTIONS IN IMPROVING THE PROCESS OF SELF-ASSESSMENT

In the framework of the project “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” implemented by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development (MPNTR) with the support of the World Bank, within the framework of goal 2.3 Improvement of the system of evaluation of the quality of preschool Education and Care, a project task related to Improvement of the process is foreseen self-evaluation in preschool institutions. The Center for European Policies (CEP) was engaged to implement the project task, which was defined in cooperation with MPNTR and the Institute for Evaluation of the Quality of Education and Training (ZVKOV).

The aim of the activities within this project task is to improve the process and practice of self-evaluation by strengthening the competencies of practitioners who are recognized as key actors in the process of changing practice in accordance with the starting points of the program conception of preschool Education and Care (PVO). In this sense, it is important to ensure a common understanding of the cycle and the role of self-evaluation in the development and change of kindergarten practice, and the Project provides various types of support:

• – prepared resources for self-evaluation of the work of preschool institutions (proposed instruments – checklists for self-evaluation team members, questionnaires for educators and nurse educators, focus groups/interviews with educators, parents, professional associates, director, a proposal of questions for consultation with children);

• – a Guide for self-evaluation of PU was created (10,600 copies are being printed, of which almost every group in all public PUs will have its own copy of the guide);

• – one-day training for self-evaluation teams of public PUs (completed during June and September);

• – mentoring support for self-evaluation teams of all public preschool institutions throughout the entire cycle of self-evaluation during the working year 2022/23. years;

Based on the decision of the Minister, the one-day training for self-evaluation of the quality of the work of preschool institutions was placed on the list of programs of public interest and as such is free for all participants.

The training leaders form a team of 30 practitioners who have been previously trained to conduct training for self-evaluation of the work of the PU and provide mentoring support during the entire cycle of self-evaluation.

During June, 11 training sessions were held with around 300 participants from 77 preschool institutions, and during September, an additional 7 training sessions were held for teams from 84 PUs, with around 200 participants. The hosts were preschool institutions that provided their space for the implementation of the training (except for a few that were implemented in vocational training centers). The training was evaluated by the participants as very useful, applicable, and educational because it provided useful information and guidelines for further work on the self-evaluation process, as well as concrete proposals, explanations, and recommendations for further work.

Mentoring support to self-evaluation teams of public PUs is currently underway (since October 1) and will last throughout the entire self-evaluation cycle, until June 2023.

In November, there will be 3 trainings for about 100 educational advisors from all school administrations in the territory of the Republic of Serbia with the aim of empowering them to provide support to practitioners in PU in accordance with the new program concept.