PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION: CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS FOR REVISION OF STANDARDS FOR ACCREDITATION OF STUDY PROGRAMS FOR TRAINING PRESCHOOL TEACHERS

The Ministry of Education, within the framework of the “Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care” project, provides support for improving the initial training of preschool teachers as part of the reform processes in the preschool education system initiated by the introduction of the new preschool education program concept – “Godine uzleta”.

To present the results of previous activities in supporting the enhancement of the quality of initial training for preschool teachers and particularly to consider the Proposal for Revision of Standards for Accreditation of Study Programs for Training Preschool Teachers, a Professional Consultation was held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade, Mihajla Pupina 2 Bulevard. The consultation included members of the National Accreditation Body (NAB) and the Commission for Accreditation and Quality Assurance (CAQA).

The consultation was opened with an introductory address by the Assistant Minister for Preschool and Primary Education, Dr. Milan Pasic.

“The aim of Component 2 is to improve the quality of preschool upbringing and education through activities that strengthen the competencies of practitioners for the application of the new program basis, enhance initial training and professional development of preschool teachers, and improve the quality evaluation of preschool institutions.

We face the challenge of stabilizing and further developing the changes we have jointly initiated, as well as ensuring that the initial training of preschool teachers keeps pace with the changes required of practitioners in accordance with the Standards of Competence for the Profession of Preschool Teachers.”

Assistant Minister for Higher Education, Dr. Aleksandar Jovic, spoke about supporting the improvement of initial training through the Project.

“In the previous period, we initiated activities to enhance the initial training of preschool teachers, particularly in segments related to the implementation of professional practice in training schools in collaboration with higher education institutions and preschools. This includes aligning study programs/courses with the Standards of Competence for the Profession of Preschool Teachers and their professional development, in close cooperation with representatives of higher education institutions that train preschool teachers and preschools where they perform and further develop their complex professional roles.”

Following the introductory addresses, project consultants Dr. Vesna Colic, Professor of Professional Studies at the College of Professional Studies for Preschool Teacher Education in Novi Sad, and Prof. Dr. Aleksandar Stojanovic from the Faculty of Teacher Education at the University of Belgrade, briefly acquainted the participants with the project results to date and presented the Proposal for Revision of the Standards for Accreditation of Study Programs for Preschool Teacher Education.

A discussion on the presented Proposal then followed. The first to join the discussion was Prof. Dr. Milorad Milovančević, President of the National Accreditation Body. He emphasized that the consultants (Prof. Dr. Zivka Krnjaja, Dr. Vesna Colic, and Prof. Dr. Aleksandar Stojanovic) had done a complex and quality job (Recommendations for aligning study programs, a student practice model in training schools – Prototype) aimed at improving the initial training of preschool teachers, including the Proposal for Revision/Amendment of the Standards for Accreditation of Study Programs. Dr. Branko Boskovic, Professor of Professional Studies, agreed and added that this is not a revision of the Standards, but an improvement.

Other participants – members of the National Accreditation Body, Ministry representatives, professors from colleges and faculties that train preschool teachers, and a representative of practitioners from preschool institutions – expressed positive opinions regarding the presented results. It was concluded that after the Consultation, the improved Standards, i.e., additional guidelines for the application of standards related to preschool teacher education, would be sent to CAQA for further implementation.

The consultation was moderated by Biljana Kojovic, coordinator of component 2 of the Project.