CONTINUATION OF SUPPORT TO PRESCHOOL INSTITUTIONS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE PRESCHOOL EDUCATION AND CARE PROGRAM WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE PROJECT INCLUDING PRESCHOOL EDUCATION AND CARE THROUGH ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT OF THE KINDERGARTEN CENTERS OF THE CLUSTER WITH TOYS AND TEACHING TOOLS

The delivery of toys and teaching aids to kindergartens started this week (with a total value of EUR 75,000 per purchase for 5 kindergartens) and is expected to be completed during August 2023. These are articles that should enable the structuring and use of kindergarten space in accordance with the new program concept and the creation of preconditions for the quality realization of one-day professional exchanges of practitioners from different preschool institutions during the implementation of the model.

Within the framework of component 2 of the project “Inclusive Preschool Education and Care” implemented by the Ministry of Education and Development with funds from the World Bank loan, the Support Program for the Implementation of the New Foundations of Preschool Education and Care “Godine uzleta” was developed and implemented. In addition to trainings, mentoring support, and the creation of manuals and guides, two models of horizontal learning and exchange were developed to support the improvement of the competencies of practitioners: the model of the Professional Learning Community (PLC) and the model of Joint Learning by Modeling (JLM).

Within the model of Joint learning through modeling developed by the Institute of Pedagogy and Andragogy of the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, 5 kindergartens from preschool institutions in Novi Sad, Zemun, Cacak, Loznica and Pirot were chosen to be cluster centers where, for the purpose of education and horizontal organize professional visits of employees from other preschool institutions in Serbia:

PU “Radosno detinjstvo” Novi Sad, Kindergarten “Kalimero”

PU “Bambi” Loznica, Kindergarten “Bambi”

PU “Dr. Sima Milosevic” Zemun, kindergarten “Zemunski biser”

PU “Moje detinjstvo” Cacak, Kindergarten “Mladost”

PU “Cika Jova Zmaj” Pirot, Kindergarten “Lane”

In order to support the cluster centers for the further development of quality practice, the exchange of examples of good practice in the application of the new program concept and the realization of one-day expert meetings for colleagues from other preschool institutions:

– training was developed, accredited and implemented for 90 practitioners from these kindergartens (for conducting and moderating professional exchanges);

– continuous professional support is provided;

– activities are carried out in connection with the additional equipping of kindergartens-cluster centers with low mobile furniture, information and communication technology and didactics (on the basis of the examined needs of kindergartens and in consultation with the Institute for Pedagogy and Andragogy, UNICEF and the Ministry, the technical specifications of the equipment were drawn up and carried out market research for all three acquisitions).

In the previous period, deliveries of ICT equipment and low-mobile furniture were already made to the mentioned kindergartens, which are the centers of the cluster (with a total value of EUR 90,000 per purchase for 5 kindergartens).

The additional equipment of the cluster centers significantly contributes to the improvement of the quality of professional support to practitioners in the development of different models of joint learning and exchange, and thus to the improvement of the quality of educational practice in preschool institutions in Serbia.

You can see the photos here.