2023

In the 2023/24 school year, the piloting of an Innovative Program for preschool education will begin in six preschool institutions. The starting points of the Preschool Education and Training Program are current reference documents (Law on Preschool Education, Early and Preschool Education Strategy 2021-2025, Inclusive Education Strategy 2021-2025), past experiences and insights into current preschool practice, achievements and challenges, as well as modern scientific knowledge. The program is intended for everyone who is directly involved in the educational process in preschool institutions, primarily teachers, as the key bearers of pedagogical activities in nurseries and kindergartens, nurses, professional associates, educational management, parents, students and the community.

With regards to the implementation of the development directions under the third Strategy of Early and Preschool Education for the Period 2021-2025, the key activities were oriented vulnerable groups - for delegated pediatricians and visiting nurses, counseling was organized on the topic "Models and forms of early intervention" for 11 municipalities. The Cboard application is used in 13 preschool institutions, 4 elementary schools and resource centers. In total, 81 tablet devices were allocated in this cycle, which are being by 120 girls and boys in Podgorica, Bar, Nikšić, Herceg Novi, Kotor, Tivat, Kolašin, Cetinje, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Ulcinj, Rožaje. At the moment, with the number of earlier devices (55), 136 tablets are used by 200 girls and boys.

The Program of additional professional support was continued and expanded from 3 to 8 new municipalities and day care centers. The child is picked up from preschool, elementary school and brought to Day Care Centers for treatment, additional professional work and support (organized for 218 girls and boys from 11 Preschool institutions and 18 elementary schools).

A Model of early intervention services that foresees the use of resources and coordination mechanisms was sent to the Council for the Rights of the Child and to the Government for further decision. 

2022

The implementation of the development directions under the third Strategy of Early and Preschool Education for the Period 2021-2025 is underway. The field of preschool education is regulated by the law, in order to provide every child with the best possible start, i.e. having in mind that neurological development in children is most intensive in the period of preschool education, we considered it necessary to continue with developing this level of education through the preparation of new Strategy of Early and Preschool Education for the period 2021-2025. In accordance with the Strategy of Early and Preschool Education for the period 2021-2025, the reform of the Programme for this level is underway, carried out by the Bureau for Educational Services. The Strategy through the Operational goal 2 strives to modernize the current plan and programme for Preschool Education in the light of scientific knowledge and the best international practices leading to overall development of the potentials of every child and improve the system of ensuring the quality in accordance with the EU framework for high quality preschool education by 2025. 

In terms of  infrastructure capacities, a new public preschool institution "Simba" was opened in Podgorica. Works are being carried out on the construction of new educational units, through a partnership with CEB and Public Services.  With the aim of expansion and maintenance of interactive services - new points, for which local communities, schools and public facilities have given space, will be adapted. The IROP form was revised. This is in accordance with the Action Plan for the Strategy of Inclusive Education, as well as the recommendations of the research carried out by the NGO Staze "Consequences of COVID 19 on Vulnerable Groups", which dealt with the issue of IROP. The Evaluation and revised forms for preschool institutions, schools and resource centers were completed. The opinions of Bureau for Educational Services and Center for vocational education were collected and the material for adoption was sent to the National Council for Education.

2021

With regard to the educational process during the pandemic, the second meeting of the Working Group for the organization and monitoring of the educational process during the pandemic COVID-19 was held on 24 August 2021. It was decided that preschool institutions will carry out educational work as before, without changes.

In cooperation with UNICEF, the program Comprehensive and quality development of adequate early learning for all children is underway. The following has been implemented in the area of inclusive education and work with RE community:

• Focus groups with parents with the aim of assessing the needs and developing thematic educational programs with modules for groups at risk.
• A program of thematic education of parents with modules for groups at risk.
• Training on working with the RE population on the topic "Activities and materials for work in kindergarten" was conducted.
• Description and scope of activities was defined, centers of excellence as the core of innovative and modern knowledge from various fields of educational work were selected.
• Educational package of support for early development of children in hospital treatment was designed.
• Framework for the model of cooperation between kindergartens, living room: Pljevlja, Golubovci, Kotor was developed.
• On-line fair of the most representative practices of each preschool institution during Covid 19 was organized.
• Fairs were organized in kindergartens so as to encourage enrollment in kindergartens and promote the profession of educators.

At its session held on October 8, 2021, the Government of Montenegro adopted the Strategy for Early and Preschool Education (2021-2025) with an Action Plan. Bearing in mind that there is still room for improvements in Montenegro in preschool education, the strategic goals for the next four years is: Ensuring equal opportunities for early development of all children in Montenegro by strengthening the availability, quality and fairness of preschool education and uprbringing.  In order to achieve the set strategic goal, it is necessary to meet three general operational goals, namely: General operational objective 1: Increasing the coverage of children in preschool education; General operational objective 2: Improving and ensuring the quality of preschool education; General operational objective 3: Improving the chances for early development of children from vulnerable groups.