"The reform of the education system is not something that can be realized overnight. We know that in some schools there are five shifts each and that they affect the quality of life of the child", said the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Anđela Jakšić Stojanović at the consultation on the state of education in Montenegro in the Multimedia Hall of the Capital City Assembly.
"In order to solve this problem, we need to build new schools and create new spatial capacities so that this does not happen," she said.
"In January, we expect the laying of the foundation stone for the school in the City Quarter, the upgrade of the Sutjeska school is planned, and the construction of the school in Karabuško polje is planned. Without new schools and without reconstruction of schools, there is no improvement of the education system", said Jakšić Stojanović.
She highlighted the introduction of robotics to the school and interactive learning methods.
"We are aware that the situation is not favorable, especially in the north where some schools did not have toilets and water in 2024," she said.
"When it comes to the curriculum in schools, some subjects have too much material. We don't have continuity with the subjects, some subjects students encounter in the 6th grade, then they don't have it in the 7th and then they encounter it again in the 8th grade, and for some subjects the number of lessons must be increased," said the minister. .
"It is necessary to work on the revision of textbooks, in order to see what is wrong," said Jakšić Stojanović.
The minister also said that the number of pedagogues and psychologists in schools will be increased because prevention is the best way to prevent peer violence.
The President of the Capital City Assembly, Jelena Borovinic Bojović, said that the quality of education is a sore spot in our society.
"If we don't improve it, we have nothing to hope for in the future," said Borovinić Bojović.
"Education is a right, and it is not a way to build a worker, but a human being. The crisis of acquiring knowledge is not present only in Montenegro, but in the whole world", said the head of the UNICEF representative office in Montenegro, Mikele Servadei.
The executive director of the Parents association, Kristina Mihailović, said that they conducted a questionnaire in which parents evaluated the overall situation in education with an average grade.
"Training for assistants was carried out by controversial people"
One of the present parents questioned the small number of assistants for the large number of children with special educational needs. He also mentioned that the school board ignored the dismissal of the director of the "June 1" Resource Center. The Minister of MPNI replied that she was aware of the situation at the "June 1" school, and that she was aware of the dismissal, and that it was the school board that ignored the decision on the dismissal.
"Any involvement of the minister would be a violation of the general law on education," she said.
"It is true that no attention has been paid to that school for many years, and 10 days ago there was an inspection there, and we are waiting for their results. That is one of the reasons why we supported the new law on education," she said.
Jakšić Stojanović said that the training for assistants was conducted with very controversial people, even at driving schools.
"We initiated changes to 11 laws, and one of the changes refers to the fact that you can revoke someone's license," she said.
"Only by building new kindergartens can the problem of overcrowding be solved"
One of the present parents questioned the fact that almost all cities in Montenegro lack kindergartens.
Minister Jakšić Stojanović said that in Podgorica they start from the City quarter when it comes to building schools and kindergartens.
"There is a huge burden on Štampar Makarije and Radojica Perović schools. The works on the kindergarten and school in Tivat are coming to an end," she said.
"We have spaces that are adapted so that the children can be accommodated, because for a long time there is not enough room for everyone. Instead of 20-30 students in kindergartens, we have 50, that can only be solved by building new kindergartens," the minister pointed out.
Another problem mentioned by the present parents is the opening of a faculty or chair for special education and rehabilitation, and that every deadline has been missed. The parents mentioned that between 3500 and 5000 children need the support of speech therapists or special education teachers.
Jakšić Stojanović said that the faculty is not the responsibility of the Ministry of National Defense, but of the University of Montenegro (UCG). One of the proposed models is that the state finances the departure of staff to study abroad. She pointed out that Olivera Leković sent a letter to the UCG regarding this.
Another problem that the parents mentioned was that none of the educational staff, i.e. the professors, knows how to read Braille.
"For 11 years of schooling, my child has never received books in Braille," said one of the attendees.
She also pointed out that there is no licensed white cane training in Montenegro.
Minister Jakšić Stojanović said that very little has been done in Montenegro regarding Braille.
The event was attended by parents whose children attend kindergartens, primary and secondary schools in Podgorica.
The consultations were organized by the association "Parents", within the project "Quality education for all children of Montenegro", which is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, UNICEF, the European Union and the UN Peacebuilding Fund.
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