All children should return to school and be provided with the quality education and support they need for learning and development, according to a joint appeal by UNICEF, the British Embassy in Podgorica, the Educational Community and the Parents' Association.
They remind that it is not enough to reopen schools in September.
"It is necessary for schools to provide a safe environment for everyone, as well as to support teachers to assess and compensate for the loss of students in learning and to use digital technology more effectively in teaching," the statement said.
It is considered necessary for schools to support the social and emotional development of children and promote the mental health of students and teachers.
"The best way to achieve all this is through the joint efforts and consultations of all interested parties, primarily teachers, students, parents and local communities," the statement said.
The head of the UNICEF representative office in Montenegro, Juan Santander, pointed out that UNICEF believes that open schools are in the best interest of children and the whole society.
"Children need it for learning, development and mental health. There are many data on the safety of learning in classrooms, and the availability of vaccines to teachers, parents and older family members is now even more in favor of open schools," he said.
Speaking about the huge impact of school closures on students, Santander pointed out that it is not enough to simply reopen classrooms.
"Children will need support to make up for the losses in mastering the curriculum," he believes.
Santander said that all teachers should be supported in order to better prepare themselves to make up for "losses" in learning, as well as to use digital technology as effectively as possible in teaching.
"In order to respond to all these challenges, it is now most important to organize continuous consultations with all stakeholders in order to support the education system to effectively respond to the needs of all children, especially those who are the most vulnerable," he said.
Santander said that UNICEF will continue to support the Government to respond to these challenges, because "they believe that quality, inclusive education is one of the highest priorities of Montenegro".
The British ambassador in Podgorica, Karen Maddox, reminded that Montenegro, like many countries of the world, closed schools during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We now know that school closures will have an impact on this generation of children for years, as well as the long-term future of the country. "Montenegro has ambitions to promote innovation and build a stronger economy after COVID," she said.
According to her, the key to long-term sustainable economic growth is its human capital.
"And in order to nurture this country's talent, its young people must be able to return to their classrooms, from elementary schools to universities, as soon as possible," Maddox said.
The NVU Educational Community of Montenegro demands from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports to devote itself to one of the key segments of this society, first of all to prepare the new school year and to build a non-partisan educational system that will be able to design and implement quality changes.
"We want open schools, but also open minds for a healthy individual and a healthy society," said Danijela Delibašić.
The Association of Parents believes that a lot of things have already been missed to be done on time and that the lesson from the previous year was not learned, on the basis of which it could be concluded that preparations had to be started much earlier.
"We must not allow ourselves to repeat even a similar situation as last year. Children have lost a lot both in learning and development, and when it comes to mental health, and the question is whether it can be compensated for," said Kristina Mihailović.
She says that parents are wondering whether the consequences of the current decisions regarding the epidemiological situation in recent months will have to be borne by the children.
"Because, when it's time for them to go to school, there will be closures, primarily of educational institutions. Parents fear that the most, of course, along with the fact that their children will be safe in schools," Mihailović said.
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