The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MESI), the Association of Mediators of Montenegro and the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution signed a Memorandum of Cooperation within the project "Introducing Peaceful Dispute Resolution - Mediation in Schools".
The Ministry of Education and Science announced that a Memorandum was signed with the aim of developing and piloting a school mediation program as a non-violent dispute/conflict resolution in schools.
As stated, these activities are being carried out as part of the broader initiative "Strengthening Citizens' Trust in Institutions and Building Resilient Communities" implemented by UNDP, UNICEF and UNESCO, in cooperation with the Government, and the Project is funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund.
"The Memorandum of Cooperation and the implementation of the project, which is being implemented with the support of UNICEF, will significantly impact the quality of relationships in schools at all levels, as well as the reduction of peer violence, given that the right path for the education system is the prevention of all negative phenomena in society and education," said the Ministry of Education and Science.
They said that the implementation of the project includes training teachers and representatives of the pedagogical and psychological service in four-day workshops, training students, future peer mediators, informing students and parents about the school mediation program, prescribing procedures for action, and horizontal dissemination of what has been learned among all participants in the educational process in schools.
The project will be implemented in the elementary schools "Sutjeska", "Novka Ubović", "Branko Božović" and "Radojica Perović" in Podgorica, as well as in the elementary school "Anto Đedović" in Bar and the elementary school "Marko Miljanov" in Bijelo Polje.
"We expect that the implementation of this project will continue in other educational institutions in Montenegro in the next school year," said the Ministry of Education and Science.
They pointed out that the project is aligned with the Analysis of the Situation and Proposals for Measures to Combat Violence and Vandalism in Schools adopted by the Government, and with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Development Program 2023-2025.
"The project is also in line with Article 9b of the General Law on Education, which stipulates that mediators may be engaged in resolving conflicts in the institution," the statement said.
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