During the summer, certain employees in the on-call units of Podgorica kindergartens practice "planned sick leave" and know in advance how sick they will be, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation told "Vijesta".
In the past few days, several parents addressed the newsroom claiming that the situation in on-call institutions is not good, that teachers are going on sick leave, that children have to get used to new faces, but also that the groups are large, and that the on-call facilities are often not close to all parents. .
The Ministry replied that they are monitoring the situation in state kindergartens in Montenegro, considering that they had complaints from parents about overbooking, the fact that the units are quite far away, and the fact that many teachers are on sick leave.
The MPNI told "Vijesti" that, when it comes to the opening of sick leave for employees, in the two largest preschool institutions "Đina Vrbica" and "Ljubica Popović" during the month of July, 50 and 30 employees are on sick leave, respectively.
"Unfortunately, some employees practice 'planned sick leave' and know in advance how sick they will be. However, with the current systemic solutions regarding the control of sick leave, if a doctor opens a sick leave and issues a certificate, the possibilities for reacting legally are quite limited. Bearing in mind that abuse of sick leave is a systemic problem, it is necessary to approach its solution through joint action. For this reason, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation approached the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Health in order to jointly design and implement a sick leave control model for employees in educational institutions", said the Ministry, which is headed by Anđela Jakšić-Stojajnović. .
They claim that the on-call system in public pre-school institutions has been successfully applied for years, where there is a need.
The MPNI claim that the educational work runs continuously and is not interrupted even during the summer months, and the educational units are open on all working days from 6 a.m. to 17 p.m.
As they explained, the only difference is reflected in the organization of work during the months of July and August, when based on the expressed interest of parents in the stay of children in kindergartens during those months and the need to comply with legal norms on the use of the right to annual vacations, a smaller number of kindergartens is opened .
"Based on the number of registered children, educational units are selected which, based on their capacity and territorial proximity to the parent units, will receive children during the period of July and August," the department explains.
The Ministry claims that "the quality of educational work and the dedication of educators is at the same level and does not decline, but shows a tendency towards a stimulating effect on comprehensive child growth and development."
When asked by "Vijesti" about the increase in resources during the summer, the MPNI said that they are monitoring the situation on the ground and that, if necessary, the number of units on duty will be increased.
"Regarding the increase in resources, we point to the fact that the summer months are the time when most employees use annual vacations, which are their legally guaranteed right. Therefore, employees exercise their right to annual leave in accordance with the Labor Law and the Branch Collective Agreement for the field of education. The situation on the ground is monitored daily in order to expand the number of units on duty, if possible."
MPNI said that parents have so far expressed their greatest dissatisfaction with the fact that duty units are further away from those where they normally take their children.
"Until now, parental dissatisfaction has manifested itself mostly in connection with the fact that the on-call units are still further away from those to which they regularly take children, but also for teacher rotations due to absences (due to the organization of employees and absences), so that sometimes, but really rarely and for a short time , the children stay with other educators. It is very important to emphasize that all children who were registered for duty, even after the scheduled registration deadline, were accepted, and that no child was either returned or rejected."
The Ministry announced "intense work on large infrastructural projects that will greatly relieve the spatial capacities of kindergartens, and thus create better conditions for the stay of the youngest." The plan is to build kindergartens at the Old Airport, Zlatica, Blocks 35 and 36, City Quarter, Bar, Ulcinj, Tivat, Nikšić, Zeta, Berane and Plav".
MPNI claims that "public preschool institutions are always ready for constructive suggestions, but they must start from realistic parameters and possibilities". They also say that "parental proposals, suggestions and remarks are always welcome, and through an equal and harmonious partnership with parents, the educational context for all children is improved".
They claim that even in specific situations, as far as possible, every parental request is met, "but always taking care that the educational process, as well as the rights of children and employees, are respected".
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