The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation is not responsible for the School in Nature program, except when it comes to the organization of these activities for seventh grade students. And only for weekdays, the money for the school in nature is determined by the budget, and during those days the children are accommodated at Ivan's troughs, in the resort "Lovćen-Bečići", which was founded by the Government of Montenegro.
For students from lower and older grades, school is paid for by parents, at prices that, as parents and civil society organizations have repeatedly heard, are too high.
It's the price, he says Kristina Mihailović from the Association "Parents", and one of the possible reasons why the school in nature is not organized in the part of the country - in the north.
"One part of the country, especially in the north, does not organize schools in nature at all, probably because it is financially very unfeasible for them," she told "Vijesta".
What is a school in nature
School in nature is a special type of all-day organized educational work that takes place in the natural environment, outside the place of residence of the students, it is written in the document prepared in 2017 by the Institute of Education ("Guidelines for the development of programs and organization of schools in nature").
"Through integrated teaching of several subjects and active learning in a natural environment, as well as sports, entertainment and creative activities, the goals of compulsory and optional subjects and extracurricular activities are achieved in the nature school. A multi-day stay of students outside their place of residence, organized by the school, which is not in the function of the implementation of the national curriculum and curriculum is not considered a school in nature", the authors state in that manual.
Questionable education, high price
The "Parents" association has repeatedly said that the school program in nature is about fun and socializing, more than education.
In addition to how the school in nature is organized in terms of content, the price of accommodation is also commented on - for the school in nature that was organized during April, for one child, for three nights, about 200 euros should have been allocated. For the sake of comparison, a seven-day vacation at a resort on Veruša, until two years ago, cost almost 70 euros less.
For some, the authorities do not ask about others
"Vijesti" recently sent questions to the Department of Education regarding the organization of schools in nature, specifically regarding whether it is possible for them, not only for VII grade students, but also for others, to be organized in the facilities of public institutions, such as are JU "Lovćen-Bečići" and JU Children's Association Podgorica.
Among other things, they were asked whether, in the event that schools in nature are organized in facilities that are owned by the state, even on a commercial basis, the stay of children would be cheaper compared to the offer of private accommodation, as well as what private accommodation offers, and that some of the public institutions cannot do that...
Apart from the fact that it is not their responsibility, the Ministry of Education only answered about the project "Cetinje - one story", which has been implemented since 2014.
"The school in nature is organized by primary schools in accordance with the annual work programs of the educational institution and the program for the organization of the school in nature with the consent of the Council of Parents. To organize a school in the nature of educational institutions, they publish a public invitation. The process of choosing the agency, through which the school in nature will be implemented, is within the competence of the school", said the Department of Education, which leads Anđela Jakšić Stojanović. As they added, "educational institutions are autonomous in organizing school in nature". "And all possible irregularities in the organizing process can be dealt with by competent institutions. Therefore, the organization of the school in nature is not within the competence of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation", the answer reads. However, the department of education is responsible for the school in nature for seventh graders.
"When it comes to the project 'Cetinje - one story', it is under the jurisdiction of the Institute for Education and the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation. For the realization of this project, the budget allocated 511.830 euros. All seventh grade students from 164 elementary schools will participate in the program," said Jakšić Stojanović from the department.
They added that this project is also supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Capital of Cetinje and National Parks, that it "aims to arouse children's interest and desire to learn about the history, culture and traditions of Montenegro".
"To develop an awareness of tradition, national, cultural and linguistic identity, as well as a sense of belonging to the community. Through it, students are also introduced to the diversity of the ecosystems of the two national parks (Lovćen and Lake Skadar). Learning through play, in a large natural laboratory, encourages the ecological awareness of our students, develops a love for nature and raises awareness of the importance of sustainable development," the answer reads.
Capacities of public institutions
The Public Institution "Lovćen Bečići" includes the Recreational and Educational Center "Lovćen", the Hotel "Ivanov Konak", the branch "Palac" and the children's resort in Rafailovići.
Recreational and educational center "Lovćen" on Ivan's Koriti, as it says on the website, has 13 semi-apartments, 20 three-bed and 18 four-bed rooms, restaurant, cafeteria, three classrooms, meeting hall for up to 35 people, disco, summer stage, medical clinic.
The children's resort in Rafailovići has 250 beds in multi-bed rooms, a restaurant and a TV room.
Hotel "Ivanov Konak", with an area of 500 square meters, has five studio apartments and two double rooms with their own terraces.
The "Palac" annex, the summer home of King Nikola and his family, with an area of 360 square meters, has two salons, a library of Montenegrin literature, two apartments of 70 and 60 square meters on the first floor and four in the attic.
JU "Lovćen-Bečići" did not answer the questions of "Vijesti" about the prices of their services.
Among the public institutions, where generations have spent their vacations, is the Children's Resort on Veruša, part of the Children's Association "Children's Union" Podgorica, founded by the capital city.
The resort, however, was not opened last year and this year.
"The reasons are more than objective, bearing in mind that a serious financial project intervention is being carefully prepared, which will make the children's stay much more quality and comfortable, and will include the construction of two new pavilions, as well as a completely new water supply system, in order to permanently solve the problem of quality water supply to the resort. After these investments, we will be fully ready to enter into a market competition with other interested entities in terms of organizing schools in nature", the director told "Vijesta" Aleksandar Milosevic.
The Veruša resort is located at the foot of Mount Kom, at 1.200 meters above sea level, 45 kilometers from Podgorica.
"Our current capacity is 140 beds, and we operate on the principle of full board, three meals, with transportation, food, security, animators... The last summer season cost 135 euros, per child. Everything listed above was included in this price," he said.
Milošević also commented on the current prices of schools in nature.
"The current prices of nature schools that we can read about in the media are absolutely inappropriate for the social and economic moment we are all living in," he said.
Stay in state resorts, help for them too
From the "Parents" Association, they have no dilemma that they should think in the direction that the facilities offered by resorts owned by the state or local self-government should be used for the accommodation of children during school in nature.
"Several times it has been suggested that the former resorts be arranged and built in a way that would suit the organization of schools in nature, as well as some other contents for children, that some money be allocated for that, and used for those purposes. The way it used to be is certainly better than it is now. And the message that was sent was different, in relation to the purpose itself, specifically, schools in nature, which turned into children's summer holidays, that is, some content that has absolutely nothing to do with schools in nature", said Kristina Mihailović.
She is aware, she adds, that the capacities are not sufficient to meet the needs of schools and children, she notes that a significant number of children do not participate in these activities, that the nature school is not organized at all in the north, "probably because it is financially very unfeasible”.
"In this way, a part of the children would be organized at least throughout the year to be able to go, and this would enable, perhaps in the long term, some additional investments in those facilities, which could be used and used for exactly those purposes. I think we can talk about several locations, to make an assessment and change the schools accordingly, so that sometimes someone is at the sea, someone is on the mountain, but the purpose is fulfilled", she said.
Accommodation for children in foster care, beneficiaries of material...
Public institutions for rest and recreation, such as JU "Lovćen-Bečići", in addition to other things, perform rest and recreation activities for the child of a beneficiary of material security, a child placed in an institution or in family accommodation-fostering and a child for whom, due to special circumstances, and social risk assesses that he needs this form of social protection.
According to the data from the Report on the work of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare for 2023, in that year, 1.963 children used that right.
Last year, a total of 343.525,50 euros was allocated for these purposes, for the costs of accommodation of children, educators and parents as children's companions. A year earlier, 13,5 thousand euros more were allocated for the same purpose. In the report for 2022, the number of beneficiaries was not specified.
Accommodation is organized both during summer and during winter.
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